Clothing treatment apparatus and control method therefor

ABSTRACT

A clothing treatment apparatus includes a plurality of inverters for controlling the motors of a drum, a compressor, and a blowing fan, a converter for converting input power input from an external source and outputting the converted power to the inverters, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of inverters and the converter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371of International Application No. PCT/KR2019/005318, filed on May 3,2019, which claims the benefit of earlier filing dates of and the rightof priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2018-0052016, filed onMay 4, 2018, 10-2018-0052019, filed on May 4, 2018, 10-2018-0052055,filed on May 4, 2018, 10-2018-0052059, filed on May 4, 2018, and10-2018-0052744, filed on May 8, 2018, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment apparatusincluding a plurality of inverters and a converter to perform a dryingfunction, and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A clothing treatment apparatus performing a drying function supplies hotair into a rotating drum while an object to be dried, such as clothes orbedding, is put into the drum to remove moisture absorbed by the objectto be dried. The hot air supplied into the drum is generated by electricresistance heat, combustion heat using gas fuel, or a condenserconstituting a heat pump cycle, and the generated hot air is suppliedinto the drum by a blower fan. The moisture of the object to be dried isevaporated in the drum, and the air getting out of the drum retains themoisture of the object to be dried, resulting in a high-temperature andhigh-humidity state.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0101914 (published on Sep. 16,2013, hereinafter referred to as “priority document”) discloses a dryerhaving a drying mode selection member. Since the drum and the blower fanincluded in the dryer disclosed in the prior literature are connected tothe same motor, the drum and the blower fan are driven insynchronization with each other.

As described above, in the case of a dryer in which the drum and theblower fan are connected to the same motor, the rotation control of thedrum and the operation control of the blower fan cannot be independentlycarried out, and thus there is a problem of limiting the control methodof the dryer.

In general, since a control unit of the dryer is designed to drive asingle motor connected to the drum and the blower fan and a compressorof a heat pump system, the above problem of the dryer cannot be solvedby simply adding an additional motor.

Meanwhile, in the case of a configuration in which a motor is added asdescribed above, it may cause a problem due to overload as the number ofmotors provided in the dryer and inverters supplying power to the motorincreases.

In order to solve the foregoing problem, a converter may be added to acircuit controlling the dryer, but when the converter and a plurality ofinverters are simultaneously driven, oil in a compressor of the heatpump may flow back, thereby causing a leakage current on a controlcircuit. When the leakage current increases, it may lead to a problem inwhich the possibility of occurrence of an overshoot, that is, anovercurrent, increases.

Furthermore, as the number of motors provided in the dryer and inverterssupplying power to the motors increases, the heat value of a substrateconstituting the control unit increases, thereby deteriorating theoperation stability of the clothing treatment apparatus.

In addition, in a configuration including a plurality of inverters in acontrol device, there is also a problem that it is difficult to stablyperform the driving control of the motor. In the configuration of acontrol device including a plurality of inverters, driving control iscarried out in such a manner that DC power is transferred from a DC linkcapacitor included in a converter to the plurality of inverters, and theplurality of inverters converts the received DC power into driving powerto apply the converted DC power to each of the plurality of motors. Thecontrol unit of the dryer controls the operation of the converter andthe plurality of inverters based on the DC link voltage, the outputvoltage of the converter, or the input/output voltage of the pluralityof inverters, thereby controlling the driving of the plurality ofmotors. In such a control configuration, when a DC link voltage risesrapidly during an initial operation of the dryer, that is, during aninitial operation of the converter, a difference between a previousvoltage value and a current voltage value increases, and control for theconverter or the plurality of inverters may not be carried outaccurately. In other words, an error occurs between control periods, andthere is a concern that the detection of an accurate control parameterand control based thereon may become unstable due to such an error. Theconcern of instability of control during the initial operation causes aproblem in which the driving of the dryer itself is unstably carriedout, and also causes a problem that the operation of the plurality ofinverters receiving the DC power from the DC link capacitor isinaccurately carried out.

In recent years, consumers are demanding a dryer with a larger capacity,and in order to provide a dryer capable of solving the foregoingproblems as well as satisfying such demand, studies on a dryer having aplurality of motors has been performed.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothing treatmentapparatus capable of solving the above-described problems as a technicaltask, and a control method thereof.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothing treatmentapparatus capable of maintaining stability as well as driving a drum anda blower fan by separate motors, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus provided with a plurality of inverters anda converter together to stably cope with overload, and a control methodthereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a methodof controlling a converter included in a clothing treatment apparatusaccording to an operating state of the clothing treatment apparatus, aclothing treatment apparatus of performing the method, and a controlmethod thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of preventing the heat generationof a control unit even when drying capacity is increased, and a controlmethod thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of preventing a leakage currentfrom occurring in a control circuit of the clothing treatment apparatushaving a relatively large drying capacity, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus of performing converter operation controlto minimize a leakage current of a control circuit, and a control methodthereof.

In particular, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of eliminating the possibility ofoccurrence of an overcurrent without the need of determining anadditional driving point during the driving of a converter, and acontrol method thereof.

In addition, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of determining a time point ofoutputting a pulse width modulation duty of a converter when performinga drying operation in consideration of a size of load so as to improvethe stable driving and control stability of a motor, and a controlmethod thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of performing converter operationcontrol to prevent a malfunction due to a sudden increase in powerconsumption or an overload according to the operation state of acompressor and a plurality of motors, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of preventing a failure due to theheat generation of a converter as well as having a plurality ofinverters and the converter together.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of reducing the heat generation ofa converter when the converter and a compressor are provided in a singlehousing or provided in close proximity to each other, and a controlmethod thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of performing converter operationcontrol so as to reduce current noise in a clothing treatment apparatusprovided with a converter, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of accurately measuring a motorphase current of the clothing treatment apparatus provided with aplurality of inverters and a converter so as to reduce an operationerror of the clothing treatment apparatus, and a control method thereof.

Moreover, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothingtreatment apparatus capable of being usefully applicable to a controldevice of the clothing treatment apparatus including a power factorcorrection (PFC) applied converter and a plurality of inverters forcontrolling a plurality of motors to perform stable motor control, and acontrol method thereof.

In particular, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of sequentially increasing a DClink voltage of a DC link capacitor so as to reduce an error betweencontrol periods during the initially driving of the clothing treatmentapparatus, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of sequentially increasing a DClink voltage of a DC link capacitor so as to stably store a voltagestored in the DC link capacitor during the initial driving of theclothing treatment apparatus, and a control method thereof.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide aclothing treatment apparatus capable of sequentially increasing a DClink voltage of a DC link capacitor to stably transfer DC power suppliedfrom the DC link capacitor to a plurality of inverters, and a controlmethod thereof.

Besides, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothingtreatment apparatus capable of appropriately increasing a DC linkvoltage according to a driving state of the clothing treatmentapparatus, and a control method thereof.

In order to solve the foregoing technical problems, a clothing treatmentapparatus and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may provide embodiments of the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof capable of solving one or moreof the above technical problems, respectively.

In order to solve one or more of the foregoing technical problems, aclothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a main body defining an appearance thereof, adrum that accommodates an object to be dried, which is rotatablyprovided inside the main body, a compressor of a heat pump thatcompresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to pass through acondenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum when moisture isremoved from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blowerfan that generates a flow of the heated air or dehumidified air, aplurality of inverters that transfer power to at least one of the drum,the compressor, and the blower fan, a converter that converts inputpower received from the outside to output the converted power to theinverters, and a control unit that generates command informationcorresponding to the plurality of inverters to control the converterbased on the generated command information.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of inverters may include afirst inverter that transfers power to a first motor that rotates thedrum, a second inverter that transfers power to a second motor thatrotates the blower fan, and a third inverter that transfers power to athird motor that drives the compressor.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may generate a firstswitching signal, a second switching signal, and a third switchingsignal corresponding to the first to third inverters, respectively, andcontrol an operation of the converter based on the generated first tothird switching signals.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may detect a magnitude ofload applied to the first to third inverters, and control an operationof the converter based on the detected magnitude.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include an input unit that receives a user input for setting anoperation mode of the clothing treatment apparatus, wherein the controlunit controls the converter based on the applied user input.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the converterbased on an operation time of the clothing treatment apparatus set bythe user input.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the converterbased on a temperature of hot air supplied into the drum set by the userinput.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include a sensing unit that senses the weight of an object to bedried accommodated in the drum, wherein the control unit controls theconverter based on the weight of the object to be dried accommodated inthe drum.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may set the outputs of thefirst to third inverters, respectively, based on a set operation mode ofthe clothing treatment apparatus, and control the operation of theconverter based on the set outputs of the first to third inverters.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may detect a voltage levelof the input power, and distribute the output of the converter based onthe detected level.

According to one embodiment, the converter may include an inductor thatreceives the input power to transfer energy, a power switch connected toa rear end of the inductor to transfer the energy from the inductor toan output end thereof during a switching-off operation according to aduty control signal based on a switching signal of the control unit, andblock the transfer of the energy to the output end during a switching-onoperation, a diode connected in parallel to the power switch at the rearend of the inductor to transfer the energy to the output end, and blocka reverse flow of energy from the output end during the switching-onoperation of the power switch, and an output capacitor connected inparallel to a load at the output end, which is a rear end of the diodeto charge part of the energy transferred through the diode, and outputthe charged energy to the load during an on-operation of the powerswitch.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control a switchingoperation of the converter by receiving feedback from the output of theconverter.

In addition, in order to solve one or more of the foregoing technicalproblems, a clothing treatment apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure may include a main body defining an appearancethereof, a drum that accommodates an object to be dried, which isrotatably provided inside the main body, a compressor of a heat pumpthat compresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to pass through acondenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum when moisture isremoved from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blowerfan that generates a flow of the heated air or dehumidified air, aconverter that converts input power received from the outside to outputthe converted power to at least one of a first motor that rotates thedrum, a second motor that drives the blower fan, and a third motor thatdrives the compressor, and a control unit that controls the switchingelements of the converter in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode,wherein the control unit variably sets a switching period, which is aperiod that generates a PWM signal for operating the converter.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may generate a second PWMsignal after the first PWM signal is generated, and generates a thirdPWM signal after the second PWM signal is generated, and set a firstswitching period that is an interval between a time point of generatingthe first PWM signal and a time point of generating the second PWMsignal, and a second switching period that is an interval between a timepoint of generating the second PWM signal and a time point of generatingthe third PWM signal to be different from each other.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may randomly select anyone switching period value within a predetermined period range excludingthe first switching period value, and set the selected switching periodvalue as the second switching period.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may set the secondswitching period by increasing or decreasing a predetermined value inthe first switching period.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may randomly select anyone of a plurality of preset switching period values whenever generatingany one PWM control signal, and generate a PWM control signal followingthe generated any one PWM control signal.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may randomly determine theswitching period, but set the switching period such that the determinedswitching period is included in a preset switching period range.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may detect a magnitude ofload applied to the first to third motors, and set the switching periodrange based on the detected magnitude of the load.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may select a plurality ofpreset switching period values in a predetermined order whenevergenerating any one PWM control signal, and generate a PWM control signalfollowing the generated any one PWM control signal.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may detect a magnitude ofload applied to the first to third motors, and fix a switching frequencyto a preset frequency value when the detected magnitude of the load isabove a preset limit load value.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may sense the heat valueof the converter, and maintain the switching period as a one periodvalue when the sensed heat value is less than a preset limit heat value,and variably set the switching period when the sensed heat value exceedsa preset limit heat value.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include a sensor unit that senses the weight of a fabricaccommodated in the drum, wherein the control unit increases a changewidth of the switching period when the weight of the fabric sensed bythe sensor unit exceeds a preset limit weight.

In addition, in order to solve one or more of the foregoing technicalproblems, a clothing treatment apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a drum thataccommodates an object to be dried, which is rotatably provided insidethe main body, a compressor of a heat pump that compresses refrigerantto allow dehumidified air to pass through a condenser so as to bethermally circulated to the drum when moisture is removed from heatedair absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan that generates aflow of the heated air or dehumidified air, a plurality of motors thatdrives the drum, the blower fan, and the compressor of the heat pump, aconverter that converts input AC power into DC power to provide theconverted DC power to a DC link capacitor, a plurality of inverters thatconvert DC power stored in the DC link capacitor into AC power, andsupply the AC power to the plurality of motors, respectively, by theswitching operation of switching elements, and a control unit thatcontrols the switching operation of switching elements provided in theconverter and the plurality of inverters by pulse width modulation modecontrol, and control the switching operation of the converter in a firstoperation mode in which the pulse width modulation duty is limited afterdriving the blowing fan, and control the switching operation of theconverter by switching the first operation mode to a second operationmode in which the limit of pulse width modulation duty is released whena predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein the switching operationof the converter is controlled to increase an output voltage output fromthe converter to the DC link capacitor according to the duty limit ofpulse width modulation in the first operation mode, and to output thepulse width modulation duty within a predetermined limit current valueto the plurality of inverters in the second operation mode.

According to one embodiment, the first operation mode may be performedsimultaneously with the driving of the converter, and the secondoperation mode may be performed after a predetermined time periodelapses after the driving of the converter.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include a speed detection unit that detects a driving speed ofthe compressor of the heat pump, wherein the control unit computes themagnitude of load based on the driving speed detected by the speeddetection unit, and maintain the first operation mode while the computedmagnitude of load is below a predetermined level.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the switchingoperation of the converter by switching the first operation mode to thesecond operation mode when the computed magnitude of load exceeds thepredetermined level.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include a speed detection unit that detects a driving speed ofthe compressor of the heat pump, wherein the control unit performs theswitching of the switching elements in the converter to perform thefirst operation mode in which the output voltage of the converterincreases while the detected driving speed is below a predeterminedthreshold value, and to output a variable pulse width modulation dutyaccording to a predetermined voltage command value when the detecteddriving speed exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

According to one embodiment, when the output voltage output from theconverter exceeds a predetermined limit voltage while performing thefirst operation mode, it may be switched to the second operation mode.

According to one embodiment, when the magnitude of the output current ofthe converter is less than a predetermined threshold value afterswitching to the second operation mode, the control unit may control theswitching operation of the converter in a third operation mode in whichthe output voltage of the converter increases step-by-step to apredetermined voltage command value.

According to one embodiment, when the output voltage of the converterreaches a predetermined voltage command value while performing the thirdoperation mode, the control unit may control the switching operation ofthe converter to switch to the second operation mode so as to correspondto a set pulse width modulation duty.

According to one embodiment, the first operation mode may be performedsimultaneously with the driving of the compressor of the heat pump afterdriving the blower fan.

According to one embodiment, the first operation mode may be performedafter a predetermined time period has elapsed subsequent to driving theblower fan, the drum, and the compressor of the heat pump.

According to one embodiment, when it is detected that the current valueof an output current detected while operating in the second operationmode exceeds a threshold value for more than a predetermined number oftimes, the control unit may reduce the magnitude of the predeterminedlimit current value.

According to one embodiment, reduction in the magnitude of thepredetermined limiting current value may be performed by reducing thepulse width modulation duty for a predetermined time period.

In addition, another embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatusaccording to the foregoing embodiment may include a drum thataccommodates an object to be dried, which is rotatably provided insidethe main body, a compressor of a heat pump that compresses refrigerantto allow dehumidified air to pass through a condenser so as to bethermally circulated to the drum when moisture is removed from heatedair absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan that generates aflow of the heated air or dehumidified air, a plurality of motors thatdrives the drum, the blower fan, and the compressor of the heat pump, aconverter that converts input AC power into DC power to provide theconverted DC power to a DC link capacitor, a plurality of inverters thatconvert DC power stored in the DC link capacitor into AC power, andsupply the AC power to the plurality of motors, respectively, by theswitching operation of switching elements, a speed detection unit thatdetects a driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump subsequent todriving the blower fan, and a control unit that controls the switchingoperation of switching elements provided in the converter and theplurality of inverters by pulse width modulation mode control, andcontrol the switching operation of the converter using either one of afirst operation mode in which the pulse width modulation duty is limitedbased on the driving speed detected by the speed detection unit and asecond operation mode in which the limit of pulse width modulation dutyis released, wherein the switching operation of the converter iscontrolled to increase an output voltage output from the converter tothe DC link capacitor according to the duty limit of pulse widthmodulation in the first operation mode, and to output the pulse widthmodulation duty within a predetermined limit current value to theplurality of inverters in the second operation mode.

In addition, in order to solve one or more of the foregoing technicalproblems, a clothing treatment apparatus according to yet still anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body defining anappearance thereof, a drum that accommodates an object to be dried,which is rotatably provided inside the main body, a compressor of a heatpump that compresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to passthrough a condenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum whenmoisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to bedried, a blower fan that generates a flow of the heated air ordehumidified air, a converter that converts input power received fromthe outside to output the converted power to at least one of a firstmotor that rotates the drum, a second motor that drives the blower fan,and a third motor that drives the compressor, and a control unit thatcontrols at least one of the converter and the compressor to allow theconverter to be driven from a second time point later than a first timepoint at which the compressor is driven.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may drive the converterafter a predetermined time interval elapses from a time point ofinitiating the driving of the compressor.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may detect the magnitudeof load applied to the compressor, and control the driving of theconverter to change a time interval from a time point of initiating theoperation of the compressor to a time point of initiating the operationof the converter based on the detected load.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may generate a speedcommand value corresponding to the third motor, and control the drivingof the converter based on the generated speed command value.

According to one embodiment, when a speed command value corresponding tothe third motor increases, the control unit may control the driving ofthe converter to reduce a time interval from a time point of initiatingthe operation of the compressor to a time point of initiating theoperation of the converter.

According to one embodiment, when the magnitude of the voltage appliedto the third motor increases, the control unit may control the drivingof the converter to reduce a time interval from a time point ofinitiating the operation of the compressor to a time point of initiatingthe operation of the converter.

According to one embodiment, when the magnitude of the current flowingthrough the third motor increases, the control unit may control thedriving of the converter to reduce a time interval from a time pointinitiating the operation of the compressor to a time point of initiatingthe operation of the converter.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include a weight sensing unit that senses the weight of a fabricaccommodated in the drum, and the control unit may control the drivingof the converter based on the weight of the fabric detected by theweight sensing unit.

According to one embodiment, when the weight of the fabric sensed by thesensor unit, the control unit may control the driving of the converterto reduce a time interval from a time point of initiating the compressoroperation to a time point of initiating the operation of the converter.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may simultaneously drivethe converter with the compressor when the magnitude of load applied tothe compressor is above a preset limit load.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may activate the drivingof the converter before the third motor reaches a preset speed.

According one embodiment, the control unit may compute the amount ofpower consumed by the first motor, the second motor, and the thirdmotor, and control the driving of the converter based on the computedpower.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may first rotate the drum,and drive the blower fan after the drum starts to rotate, and drive thecompressor after the blower fan starts to drive.

According to one embodiment, the clothing treatment apparatus mayfurther include an inverter including a first inverter, a secondinverter and a third inverter for supplying power to the first to thirdmotors, respectively, wherein the control unit independently controlsthe switching operations of the first to third inverters, respectively.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the driving ofthe converter based on a switching signal applied to the first to thirdinverters.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may delay a start timepoint of the operation of the converter by a predetermined time periodfrom a start time point of the operation of the compressor or a starttime point of the rotation of the drum to reduce a leakage current inthe control unit.

In addition, in order to solve one or more of the foregoing technicalproblems, a clothing treatment apparatus according to still yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may control the operation of theconverter to increase a DC link voltage stored in a DC link capacitoraccording to a preset increase reference when the clothing treatmentapparatus is initially driven.

Here, the increase reference is a reference for an increase slope or anincrease method of the DC link voltage, and refers to a reference forsoftly increasing the DC link voltage, and a control device of aclothing treatment apparatus, a clothing treatment apparatus and acontrol method thereof according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be controlled to increase the DC link voltage accordingto the increase reference.

In other words, a clothing treatment apparatus and a control methodthereof according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure mayhave a technical feature in that an operation of the converter thattransmits DC power to the DC link capacitor is controlled, therebycontrolling the DC link voltage to increase according to the increasereference.

More specifically, the converter may convert AC power into DC power tocontrol the output of a rectifying member for transmitting the DC powerto the DC link capacitor according to the increase reference so as toincrease the output of the DC power being output from the rectifyingmember to the DC link capacitor according to the increase reference,thereby controlling the DC link voltage to increase according to theincrease reference.

In this case, a target output value of the DC power output from therectifying member to the DC link capacitor or a target voltage value ofthe DC link capacitor may be sequentially increased according to theincrease reference to control the operation of the converter, therebycontrolling the DC link voltage to increase according to the increasereference.

A clothing treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, a controldevice of a clothing treatment apparatus and a control method thereofaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure having theabove-described technical features may provide a control device forcontrolling a clothing treatment apparatus, a microcomputer of theclothing treatment apparatus, a control method of the control device ofthe clothing treatment apparatus, a control device of the clothingtreatment apparatus, which is applicable and implementable to thecontrol method of the clothing treatment apparatus, and embodiments ofthe control methods 1 and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus.

A control device of the clothing treatment apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure is a control device for controllingthe clothing treatment apparatus, including a converter having arectifying member that converts AC power input from an external powersupply into DC power, and a DC link capacitor that smooths the DC powerconverted by the rectifying member, a plurality of inverters having aswitching unit that converts the DC power smoothed by the DC linkcapacitor into driving power for driving a plurality of motors drivingthe clothing treatment apparatus to output it to the plurality ofmotors, respectively, and a control unit that generates a control signalfor controlling the operation of the converter and the inverters totransfer it to the converter and the inverters, respectively, whereinthe control unit controls the operation of the converter to increase aDC link voltage stored in the DC link capacitor according to a presetincrease reference when the clothing treatment apparatus is initiallydriven, so as to increase the DC link voltage to the increase reference.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may sequentially increasea target output value of the DC power output from the converteraccording to the increase reference to control the operation of theconverter.

According to one embodiment, the increase reference may be a referencefor an increase slope or an increase method of the DC link voltage.

According to one embodiment, the increase reference may be set such thatthe DC link voltage increases by a predetermined level per hour up to amaximum voltage level.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control an increase ofthe DC link voltage according to a capacity of an object to be driedthat is accommodated in a drum of the clothing treatment apparatus.

According to one embodiment, when the capacity is less than a presetload reference, the control unit may control the operation of theconverter to increase the DC link voltage according to the increasereference.

According to one embodiment, when the capacity is less than the loadreference, the control unit may vary the increase reference according tothe capacity to control the operation of the converter.

According to one embodiment, when the capacity is above the loadreference, the control unit may control the operation of the converterto increase the DC link voltage without conforming to the increasereference.

In addition, a clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may include a drum in which an object to bedried is accommodated to perform a drying operation, a blower fan thatpromotes the flow of air inside the clothing treatment apparatus, a heatpump that removes moisture in the air exhausted from the drum toexchange heat, a plurality of motors that drive each of the drum, theblower fan, and the heat pump, a converter that converts AC power inputfrom an external supply into DC power, a plurality of inverters thatreceive the DC power from the converter to convert into driving powerfor driving the plurality of motors so as to output it to the pluralityof motors, respectively, and a control unit that controls the operationof the converter and the inverters, wherein the control unit controls anincrease in a DC link voltage of a DC link capacitor provided in theconverter according to the capacity of an object to be dried when theclothing treatment apparatus is initially driven.

According to one embodiment, when the capacity is less than a presetload reference, the control unit may control the DC link voltage tosequentially increase according to a preset increase reference.

According to one embodiment, when controlled to sequentially increaseaccording to the increase reference, the control unit may sequentiallyincrease a target output value of the DC power output from the converteraccording to the increase reference.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may vary the increasereference according to the capacity.

According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the DC linkvoltage to increase immediately when the capacity is above the loadreference.

In addition, Embodiment 1 of the control method of controlling aclothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure is amethod of controlling a clothing treatment apparatus including a drum inwhich an object to be dried is accommodated to perform a dryingoperation, a blower fan that promotes the flow of air inside theclothing treatment apparatus, a heat pump that removes moisture in theair exhausted from the drum to exchange heat, a plurality of motors thatdrive each of the drum, the blower fan, and the heat pump, a converterthat converts AC power input from an external supply into DC power, aplurality of inverters that receive the DC power from the converter toconvert into driving power for driving the plurality of motors so as tooutput it to the plurality of motors, respectively, and the method mayinclude starting the driving of the clothing treatment apparatus,sensing a capacity of the object to be dried, determining an increasereference of a DC link voltage of a DC link capacitor included in theconverter based on the capacity, and controlling the operation of theconverter to increase the DC link voltage according to the increasereference.

According to one embodiment, said determining step may determine theincrease reference to increase the DC link voltage at a predeterminedslope when the capacity is less than a preset load reference.

According to one embodiment, said determining step may determine thepredetermined slope according to the capacity.

According to one embodiment, said determining step may determine theincrease reference to increase the DC link voltage without having apredetermined slope when the load capacity is above the load reference.

According to one embodiment, said determining step may increase a targetoutput value of the DC power output from the converter according to theincrease reference to control the operation of the converter.

In addition, Embodiment 2 of the control method of controlling aclothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure is amethod of controlling a clothing treatment apparatus including a drum inwhich an object to be dried is accommodated to perform a dryingoperation, a blower fan that promotes the flow of air inside theclothing treatment apparatus, a heat pump that removes moisture in theair exhausted from the drum to exchange heat, a plurality of motors thatdrive each of the drum, the blower fan, and the heat pump, a converterthat converts AC power input from an external supply into DC power, aplurality of inverters that receive the DC power from the converter toconvert into driving power for driving the plurality of motors so as tooutput it to the plurality of motors, respectively, and the method mayinclude initially driving the clothing treatment apparatus, convertingthe DC power into driving power, and outputting the driving power to theplurality of motors, respectively, to control the drying operation,wherein the said initially driving step includes sensing a capacity ofthe object to be dried, determining an increase reference of a DC linkvoltage of a DC link capacitor included in the converter based on thecapacity, and controlling the operation of the converter to increase theDC link voltage according to the increase reference.

According to one embodiment, said initially driving step may be carriedout during a preset driving time period.

Embodiments of a control device of a clothing treatment apparatus, aclothing treatment apparatus, and a control method thereof as describedabove may be a useful solution in particular for a control device of aclothing treatment apparatus including a power factor correction (PFC)applied converter and a plurality of inverters for controlling aplurality of motors, and a control method thereof.

Embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and the control methodthereof according to the present disclosure may have an effect of stablydriving a control circuit having a plurality of inverters and aconverter.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may have aneffect of controlling the driving of the converter under conditionsrequiring high output, thereby improving drying performance.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may variablyset the switching period of the converter, thereby having an effect ofreducing heat value.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may randomlyset the switching period of the converter, thereby having an effect ofreducing the amplitude of noise.

In addition, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the presentdisclosure may variably set the switching period of the converter,thereby reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise.

In particular, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may eliminatethe possibility of overshoot without adjusting a time point of driving aload during the driving of the converter according to the use of aplurality of inverters, and release duty ratio limit to output avariable pulse width modulation duty when the magnitude of loadincreases, thereby having an effect of eliminating the possibility ofstopping the driving of the compressor and ensuring control stability.

In other words, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may limit orvary the pulse width modulation duty output to the converter accordingto the magnitude of load, thereby having an effect of preventing theovershooting of leakage current as well as adaptively adjusting theoutput current of the converter.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may control atime point of driving the converter, thereby having an effect ofminimizing the occurrence of leakage current.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and itscontrol method according to the present disclosure may actively adjust atime point of driving the converter under conditions requiring highoutput, thereby having an effect of ensuring driving stability anddrying efficiency at the same time.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may controlthe operation of the converter to increase a DC link voltage stored in aDC link capacitor according to a preset increase reference, therebyhaving an effect of softly increasing the DC link voltage according tothe increase reference.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may softlyincrease the DC link voltage according to the increase reference,thereby having an effect of reducing an error between control periodswhen the clothing treatment apparatus is initially driven as well ashaving an effect of performing accurate and stable control for theconverter and the plurality of inverters when the clothing treatmentapparatus is initially driven.

Furthermore, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may softlyincrease the DC link voltage according to the increase reference to havean effect of stably storing a voltage stored in a DC link capacitor aswell as stably transferring DC power supplied from the DC link capacitorto a plurality of inverters, thereby having an effect of preventing theburnout of a control device provided with a plurality of circuitelements, and increasing the lifespan.

Moreover, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may change anincrease reference of the DC link voltage according to a driving stateof the clothing treatment apparatus to softly increase the DC linkvoltage, thereby having an effect of performing appropriate powercontrol according to the driving state of the clothing treatmentapparatus.

As a result, embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may ensurecontrol stability and reliability of a control device of the clothingtreatment apparatus including a converter and a plurality of inverters,thereby having an effect of easily achieving the configuration of such acontrol device as well as performing appropriate and efficient controlfor a plurality of motors included in the clothing treatment apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothing treatment apparatusassociated with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a drum and an air circulation passage in aclothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a base and parts mounted on the base ina clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing components in a clothing treatmentapparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit in a clothingtreatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart 1 showing a control method according to anembodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus and the control methodthereof according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific embodiment of the controlmethod as shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a converter switching period according to anembodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus and the control methodthereof according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an embodiment of variably setting a converterswitching period according to an embodiment of the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing another embodiment of variably setting aconverter switching period according to an embodiment of the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual view showing a table consisting of converterswitching period values according to an embodiment of the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a graph associated with a setting range associated with aconverter switching period according to an embodiment of the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the EMI noise of a typical converter.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the EMI noise of a converter according to anembodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus and the control methodthereof according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between a driving speed and anoutput voltage in a compressor of a heat pump according to a dryingoperation as a drying operation proceeds according to the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a method of selectively performinga first operation mode or a second operation mode when a converter isdriven after initiating a drying operation of the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are graphs for explaining the overshooting of aleakage current according to the magnitude of load when a converter isdriven after initiating a drying operation of the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a method of selectively performing afirst operation mode or a second operation mode according to a drivingspeed of a compressor after initiating a drying operation of theclothing treatment apparatus and the control method thereof according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a method of selectively performinga first operation mode, a second operation mode, and a third operationmode according to the magnitude of the output voltage and output currentof the converter after initiating a drying operation according to theclothing treatment apparatus and the control method thereof according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart 2 showing a control method according to theclothing treatment apparatus and the control method thereof according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart 1 showing a specific control embodiment of thecontrol method as shown in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 20 is a flowchart 2 showing a specific control embodiment of thecontrol method as shown in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 21 is a graph showing a driving sequence of a drum, a blower fan, acompressor, and a converter according to the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a leakage current generated in a controlcircuit of a clothing treatment apparatus according to the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing an operating frequency fluctuation of acompressor according to the clothing treatment apparatus and the controlmethod thereof according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control deviceof a clothing treatment apparatus according to the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 25A to 25F are graphs showing examples of increasing a DC linkvoltage according to an increase reference according to the clothingtreatment apparatus and the control method thereof according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an initial driving control process of aclothing treatment apparatus according to the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a sequence of control method 1 of aclothing treatment apparatus according to the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a sequence according to a specificembodiment of the control method 1 of the clothing treatment apparatusshown in FIG. 27 .

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a sequence of a control method 2 of aclothing treatment apparatus according to the clothing treatmentapparatus and the control method thereof according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it should benoted that technological terms used herein are merely used to describe aspecific embodiment, but not to limit the present disclosure.

Also, unless particularly defined otherwise, technological terms usedherein should be construed as a meaning that is generally understood bythose having ordinary skill in the art disclosed in the presentspecification, and should not be construed too broadly or too narrowly.

[Basic Configuration of Clothing Treatment Apparatus]

First, a basic configuration of a clothing treatment apparatus to whichembodiments of the present disclosure are applied will be described.

Hereinafter, a clothing treatment apparatus associated with the presentdisclosure will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. Even in different embodiments according to thepresent disclosure, the same or similar reference numerals aredesignated to the same or similar configurations, and the descriptionthereof will be substituted by the earlier description. Unless clearlyused otherwise, expressions in the singular number used in the presentdisclosure may include a plural meaning.

In the present specification, it will be understood that when an elementis referred to as being “connected with” another element, the elementcan be directly connected with the other element or intervening elementsmay also be present. On the contrary, in case where an element is“directly connected” or “directly linked” to another element, it shouldbe understood that any other element is not existed therebetween.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothing treatment apparatus 1000associated with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A cabinet 1010 defines an appearance of the clothing treatment apparatus1000. A plurality of metal plates constituting the front, rear, left andright side, upper and lower portions of the clothing treatment apparatus1000 are coupled to each other to define the cabinet 1010. A frontopening portion 1011 is disposed on the front side portion of thecabinet 1010 to put an object to be treated in a drum 1030.

A door 1020 is disposed to open and close the front opening portion1011. The door 1020 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 1010 by ahinge 1021. The door 1020 may be formed of a partially transparentmaterial. Therefore, even when the door 1020 is closed, an inside of thedrum 1030 may be visually exposed through the transparent material.

The drum 1030 is rotatably provided inside the cabinet 1010. The drum1030 is defined in a cylindrical shape to accommodate the object to betreated. The drum 1030 is disposed to be laid in a front-rear directionof the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 so as to receive an object tobe treated through the front opening portion 1011. An outercircumferential surface of the drum 1030 may have concave-convexsurfaces disposed along the circumference.

An opening portion open toward front and rear sides of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000 is disposed in the drum 1030. An object to betreated may be placed into the drum 1030 through the front openingportion. Hot dry air may be supplied into the drum 1030 through the rearopening portion.

The drum 1030 is rotatably supported by a front supporter 1040, a rearsupporter 1050 and a roller 1060. The front supporter 1040 is disposedbelow a front side of the drum 1030, and the rear supporter 1050 isdisposed at a rear side of the drum 1030.

The rollers 1060 may be provided on the front supporter 1040 and therear supporter 1050, respectively. The roller 1060 is disposedimmediately below the drum 1030 and brought into contact with an outercircumferential surface of the drum 1030. The roller 1060 is rotatablydisposed, and an elastic member such as rubber is coupled to an outercircumferential surface of the roller 1060. The roller 1060 rotates in adirection opposite to the rotation direction of the drum 1030.

Heat pump cycle devices 1100 may be provided at a lower side of the drum1030. Here, the lower side of the drum 1030 denotes a lower portion in aspace between an outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030 and aninner circumferential surface of the cabinet 1010. The heat pump cycledevices 1100 refer to devices constituting a cycle to sequentiallyevaporate, compress, condense, and expand refrigerant. When the heatpump cycle devices 1100 are operated, air is dried at high temperaturewhile sequentially exchanging heat with an evaporator 1110 and acondenser 1130.

An inlet duct 1210 and an outlet duct 1220 constitute a passage forcirculating hot dry air formed by the heat pump cycle devices 1100 tothe drum 1030. The inlet duct 1210 is disposed at a rear side of thedrum 1030, and air dried at high temperature by the heat pump cycledevices 1100 is supplied to the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210.The outlet duct 1220 is disposed at a front lower side of the drum 1030,and air that has dried the object to be treated is recovered through theoutlet duct 1220.

A base 1310 is provided at a lower side of the heat pump cycle devices1100. The base 1310 refers to a molded body supporting variouscomponents of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 including the heatpump cycle devices 1100 from the lower side.

A base cover 1320 is provided between the base 1310 and the drum 1030.The base cover 1320 is disposed to cover the heat pump cycle devices1100 mounted on the base 1310. When a sidewall of the base 1310 and thebase cover 1320 are coupled to each other, an air circulation passage isformed. Part of the heat pump cycle devices 1100 are provided in the aircirculation passage.

A water tank 1410 is disposed on an upper left or upper right side ofthe drum 1030. Here, the upper left or upper right side of the drum 1030denotes an upper left portion or an upper right portion in a spacebetween an outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030 and an innercircumferential surface of the cabinet 1010. In FIG. 1 , it is shownthat the water tank 1410 is disposed at an upper left side of the drum1030. Condensate water is collected in the water tank 1410.

When the air that has dried an object to be treated is recovered throughthe outlet duct 1220 to exchange heat with the evaporator 1110,condensate water is generated. More specifically, when the temperatureof air is lowered by heat exchange performed in the evaporator 1110, theamount of saturated vapor that can be contained by the air is reduced.Since the air recovered through the outlet duct 1220 contains moistureexceeding the amount of saturated vapor, condensate water is inevitablygenerated.

A water pump 1440 (refer to FIG. 3 ) is provided inside the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000. The water pump 1440 raises condensate water tothe water tank 1410. This condensate water is collected in the watertank 1410.

A water tank cover 1420 may be disposed at one corner of a front portionof the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 so as to correspond to theposition of the water tank 1410. The water tank cover 1420 is configuredto be gripped by hand, and disposed on a front surface of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000. When the water tank cover 1420 is pulled toempty condensate water collected in the water tank 1410, the water tank1410 is drawn out from a water tank support frame 1430 together with thewater tank cover 1420.

The water tank support frame 1430 is disposed to support the water tank1410 inside the cabinet 1010. The water tank support frame 1430 extendsalong an insertion or pull-out direction of the water tank 1410 to guidethe insertion or pull-out of the water tank 1410.

An input/output panel 1500 may be disposed next to the water tank cover1420. The input/output panel 1500 may include an input unit 1510 forreceiving a selection of a clothing treatment course from a user, and anoutput unit 1520 for visually displaying an operation state of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000. The input unit 1510 may be configuredwith a jog dial, but is not necessarily limited thereto. The output unit1520 may be disposed to visually display the operation state of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000, and the clothing treatment apparatus1000 may have a separate configuration for an audible display inaddition to the visual display.

The control unit 1600 is disposed to control the operation of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000 based on a user's input appliedthrough the input unit 1510. The control unit 1600 may include a printedcircuit board and elements mounted on the printed circuit board. When auser selects a clothing treatment course through the input unit 1510 toinput a control command such as an operation of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000, the control unit 1600 controls the operation of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000 according to a preset algorithm.

The printed circuit board constituting the control unit 1600 and theelements mounted on the printed circuit board may be disposed on anupper left or upper right side of the drum 1030. In FIG. 1 , it is shownthat the printed circuit board is disposed on the upper right side ofthe drum 1030, which is an opposite side of the water tank 1410 at anupper side of the drum 1030. Considering that condensate water iscollected in the water tank 1410, and air containing moisture flowsthrough the heat pump cycle devices 1100 and ducts 1210, 1220, 1230, andelectrical products such as a printed circuit board and elements arevulnerable to water, the printed circuit board and elements arepreferably separated from the water tank 1410 or the heat pump cycledevices 1100 as far as possible.

Hereinafter, the drum 1030 and the air circulation passage will bedescribed.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the drum 1030 and the air circulation passage.In FIG. 2A, the left side corresponds to a front side (F) of the drum1030 and the right side corresponds to a rear side (R) of the drum 1030.

In order to dry laundry or the like (objects to be treated) placed intothe drum 1030, a process of supplying hot dry air into the drum 1030,recovering the air that has dried the laundry to remove moisture fromthe air must be repeated. In order to repeat this process in acondensing dryer, air must continuously circulate through the drum 1030.The circulation of air is carried out through the drum 1030 and the aircirculation passage.

The air circulation passage is defined by the inlet duct 1210, theoutlet duct 1220, and a connection duct 1230 disposed between the inletduct 1210 and the outlet duct 1220. The inlet duct 1210, the outlet duct1220, and the connection duct 1230 may be respectively defined bycoupling a plurality of members.

Based on the flow of air, the inlet duct 1210, the drum 1030, the outletduct 1220, and the connection duct 1230 are sequentially connected, andthe connection duct 1230 is again connected to the inlet duct 1210 toprovide a closed flow path.

The inlet duct 1210 extends from the connection duct 1230 to a rearsurface of the rear supporter 1050. The rear surface of the rearsupporter 1050 refers to a surface facing a rear side of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000. Since the drum 1030 and the connection duct1230 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a top-downdirection, the inlet duct 1210 may have a structure extending in atop-down direction toward a rear side of the drum 1030 from theconnection duct 1230 disposed below the drum 1030.

The inlet duct 1210 is coupled to a rear surface of the rear supporter1050. A hole is disposed at a rear side of the rear supporter 1050.Accordingly, hot dry air is supplied from the inlet duct 1210 to aninside of the drum 1030 through the hole disposed at the rear supporter1050.

The outlet duct 1220 is disposed below the front supporter 1040. A frontopening portion for putting an object to be treated in the drum must bedisposed at a front side of the drum 1030, and thus the outlet duct 1220is disposed below the front of the drum 1030.

The outlet duct 1220 extends from the front supporter 1040 to theconnection duct 1230. The outlet duct 1220 may also extend in a top-downdirection similarly to the inlet duct 1210, but a vertical extensionlength of the outlet duct 1220 is shorter than that of the inlet duct1210. Air that has dried an object to be treated in the drum 1030 isrecovered to the connection duct 1230 through the outlet duct 1220.

The evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 among heat pump cycle devices1100 are provided inside the connection duct 1230. Furthermore, acirculation fan 1710 for supplying hot dry air to the inlet duct 1210 isalso provided in the connection duct 1230. The evaporator 1110 isdisposed at an upstream side of the condenser 1130 based on the flow ofair, and the circulation fan 1710 is disposed at a downstream side ofthe condenser 1130. The circulation fan 1710 generates wind in adirection that sucks air from the condenser 1130 and supplies it to theinlet duct 1210.

Next, components below the drum 1030 will be described.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a base 1310 and parts mounted on thebase 1310.

The base 1310 is disposed to support the mechanical elements of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000, including heat pump cycle devices1100. For the mounting of the mechanical elements, the base 1310 isprovided with a number of mounting portions 1313. The mounting portion1313 refers to a region provided for mounting of mechanical elements.Each of the mounting portions 1313 may be partitioned from each other bya step of the base 1310. Hereinafter, components will be described in acounterclockwise direction based on the connection duct 1230.

Unlike the drum 1030 disposed in the center based on a left-rightdirection of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000, the air circulationpassage is disposed eccentrically to the left or right side of the drum1030. In FIG. 2B, it is shown that the air circulation passage isdisposed at a lower right side of the drum 1030. The eccentricarrangement of the air circulation passage is for the efficient dryingof an object to be treated and for the efficient arrangement of parts.

An inlet portion 1311 of the connection duct 1230 is disposed below theoutlet duct 1220, and connected to the outlet duct 1220. The inletportion 1311 of the connection duct 1230 is disposed to guide air in aninclined direction together with the outlet duct 1220. For instance, inFIG. 2B, the inlet portion 1311 of the connection duct 1230 becomesnarrower downward. In particular, a left side of the inlet portion 1311is disposed to be inclined to the lower right side. If the aircirculation passage is disposed at a lower left side of the drum 1030, aright side of the inlet portion 1311 will be disposed to be inclined tothe lower left side.

The evaporator 1110, the condenser 1130, and the circulation fan 1710are sequentially arranged at a downstream side of the inlet portion 1311based on the flow of air. When the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 isviewed from the front, the condenser 1130 is disposed behind theevaporator 1110, and the circulation fan 1710 is disposed behind thecondenser 1130. The evaporator 1110, the condenser 1130, and thecirculation fan 1710 are mounted on respective mounting portions 1313provided in the base 1310.

The base cover 1320 may be provided on the evaporator 1110 and thecondenser 1130. The base cover 1320 may be composed of a single memberor a plurality of members. When the base cover 1320 is composed of aplurality of members, the base cover 1320 may include a front base cover1321 and a rear base cover 1322.

The base cover 1320 is disposed to cover the evaporator 1110 and thecondenser 1130. The base cover 1320 may be coupled to a step or sidewallof the base 1310 disposed at left and right sides of the evaporator 1110and the condenser 1130 to constitute part of the connection duct 1230.

The circulation fan 1710 is surrounded by the base 1310 and the basecover 1320. The outlet portion 1312 of the connection duct 1230 isdisposed at an upper side of the circulation fan 1710. The outletportion 1312 of the connection duct 1230 is connected to the inlet duct1210. Hot dry air formed by the heat pump cycle devices 1100 is suppliedto the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210.

A water pump 1440 is provided at one side of the condenser 1130 (or oneside of the circulation fan 1710). The water pump 1440 is disposed totransfer condensate water collected to a mounting portion provided withthe water pump 1440.

The base 1310 is disposed to drain condensate water generated during theoperation process of the heat pump cycle devices 1100 to the mountingportion provided with the water pump 1440. For example, a bottom surfaceof the mounting portion 1313 may be inclined to allow condensate waterto flow to the mounting portion provided with the water pump 1440, or astep height of the mounting portion provided with the water pump 1440may be partially low.

Condensate water collected by the mounting portion 1313 provided withthe water pump 1440 due to the structure of the base 1310 may betransferred to the water tank 1410 by the water pump 1440. Furthermore,the condensate water may be transferred by the water pump 1440 and usedfor the cleaning of the evaporator 1110 or the condenser 1130.

A compressor 1120 and a compressor cooling fan 1720 for cooling thecompressor 1120 may be provided at one side of the water pump 1440. Thecompressor 1120 is an element constituting the heat pump cycle devices1100, but does not directly exchange heat with air, and thus does notneed to be provided at the air circulation passage. Rather, when thecompressor 1120 is provided at the air circulation passage, it mayinterfere with the flow of air, and thus the compressor 1120 ispreferably provided outside the air circulation passage as shown in FIG.2B.

The compressor cooling fan 1720 generates wind toward the compressor1120 or in a direction in which air is sucked from the compressor 1120.When the temperature of the compressor 1120 is lowered by the compressorcooling fan 1720, compression efficiency is improved.

An accumulator 1140 is provided at an upstream side of the compressor1120 based on the flow of refrigerant. The accumulator 1140 separatestwo-phase refrigerant flowing into the compressor 1120 into a gas phaseand a liquid phase to allow only the gas phase to flow into thecompressor 1120. This is because the liquid phase causes failure of thecompressor 1120 and decreases efficiency.

The refrigerant is evaporated (liquid→gaseous) while absorbing heat inthe evaporator 1110, and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseousstate to be sucked into the compressor 1120. When the accumulator 1140is provided at an upstream side of the compressor 1120, the refrigerantmay pass through the gas-liquid separator 1140 prior to flowing into thecompressor 1120. In the compressor 1120, the refrigerant becomes ahigh-temperature, high-pressure state while gas-phase refrigerant iscompressed to flow to the condenser 1130. In the condenser 1130, therefrigerant is liquefied while releasing heat. The liquefiedhigh-pressure refrigerant is depressurized in an expansion apparatus(not shown). Low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant enters theevaporator 1110.

Hot dry air is supplied to the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210 todry an object to be treated. The hot dry air evaporates the moisture ofthe object to be treated and becomes hot humid air. The hot humid air isrecovered through the outlet duct 1220, and becomes low-temperature airby receiving the heat of refrigerant through the evaporator 1110. As thetemperature of air decreases, the amount of saturated vapor in the airdecreases, and the vapor contained in the air is condensed.Subsequently, low-temperature dry air receives heat from the refrigerantthrough the evaporator 1110 to become high-temperature dry air, and issupplied to the drum 1030 again.

Next, referring to FIG. 3A, the clothing treatment apparatus accordingto the present disclosure may include at least one of an input unit 310,an output unit 320, a communication unit 330, a sensing unit 340, aninverter 350, a motor 360, and a converter 370, a control unit 380, avalve unit 391, a pump unit 392, and an auxiliary heater unit 393.

The input unit 310 may receive a control command related to theoperation of the clothing treatment apparatus from a user. The inputunit 310 may be composed of a plurality of buttons or may be composed ofa touch screen.

Specifically, the input unit 310 may be provided with a control panelthat receives a selection of an operation mode of the clothing treatmentapparatus or an input related to the execution of the selected operationmode.

The output unit 320 may output information related to the operation ofthe clothing treatment apparatus. The output unit 320 may include atleast one display.

The information output by the output unit 320 may include informationrelated to an operation state of the clothing treatment apparatus. Inother words, the output unit 320 may output information related to atleast one of the selected operation mode, whether a failure hasoccurred, an operation completion time, and an amount of laundryaccommodated in the drum.

In one embodiment, the output unit 320 may be a touch screen integrallyformed with the input unit 310.

The communication unit 330 may communicate with an external network. Thecommunication unit 330 may receive a control command related to anoperation of the clothing treatment apparatus from an external network.For example, the communication unit 330 may receive an operation controlcommand of the clothing treatment apparatus sent from an externalterminal through an external network. Accordingly, the user may remotelycontrol the clothing treatment apparatus.

In addition, the communication unit 330 may transmit information relatedto an operation result of the clothing treatment apparatus to apredetermined server through an external network.

Furthermore, the communication unit 330 may communicate with otherelectronic devices in order to establish an Internet of Things (IOT)environment.

The sensing unit 340 may sense information related to an operation ofthe clothing treatment apparatus.

Specifically, the sensing unit 340 may include at least one of a currentsensor, a voltage sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, anultrasonic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, a visualsensor (camera sensor), and a temperature sensor.

In one example, the current sensor of the sensing unit 340 may sense acurrent flowing through a point of the control circuit of the clothingtreatment apparatus.

In another example, the temperature sensor of the sensing unit 340 maysense the temperature in the drum.

As described above, the sensing unit 340 may include at least one ofvarious types of sensors, and the types of sensors included in theclothing treatment apparatus are not limited. In addition, the number orinstallation location of each sensor may be designed in various waysaccording to the purpose.

The inverter 350 includes a plurality of inverter switches to convert DCpower (Vdc) smoothed by the on/off operation of the switches intothree-phase AC power (Va, Vb, Vc) at a predetermined frequency andoutput it to the motor.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the clothing treatment apparatus according to thepresent disclosure may include a plurality of inverters 351, 352, 353,and each inverter may supply power to a plurality of motors 361, 362,363.

In FIG. 3A, it is shown that the clothing treatment apparatus includesthree inverters 351, 352, 353, and each inverter supplies power to thethree motors 361, 362, 363, but the number of inverters and motors isnot limited thereto.

Specifically, a first inverter 351 may supply power to a first motor 361for rotating a drum 301, and a second inverter 352 may supply power to asecond motor 362 for rotating a blower fan 302, and a third inverter 353may supply power to a third motor 363 for driving a compressor of a heatpump 303.

A rotation shaft of the first motor 361 and a rotation shaft of the drum301 are connected by a belt (not shown), and the first motor 361 maytransmit a rotational force to the drum 301 through the belt.

The motor 360 may be a BLDC motor capable of speed control based on aspeed command value, or may be a constant speed motor that does notperform speed control. In one example, the first motor for rotating thedrum and the third motor for driving the compressor may be configured asBLDC motors, and the second motor for rotating the blower fan may beconfigured as a constant speed motor.

For the Inverters 351, 352, 353, upper arm switches (Sa, Sb, Sc) andlower arm switches (Sa′, Sb′, Sc′) connected in series with each other,respectively, constitute a pair, and a total of three pairs of upper andlower arm switches (Sa & Sa′, Sb & Sb′, Sc & Sc′) are connected inparallel to each other. Diodes are connected in reverse-parallel to eachof the switches (Sa, Sa′, Sb, Sb′, Sc, Sc′).

In other words, a first upper arm switch (Sa) and a first lower armswitch (Sa′) implement a first phase, and a second upper arm switch (Sb)and a second lower arm switch (Sb′) implement a second phase, and athird upper arm switch (Sc) and a third lower arm switch (Sc′) mayimplement a third phase.

In one embodiment, the inverter 350 may have a shunt resistorcorresponding to at least one of the first to third phases.

Specifically, a first shunt resistor may be connected to one end of thefirst lower arm switch (Sa′) in the first switch pair (Sa, Sa′), andsimilarly, a second shunt resistor may be connected to one end of thesecond lower arm switch (Sb′), and a third shunt resistor may beconnected to one end of the third lower arm switch (Sc′). The first tothird shunt resistors are not essential components, and only part of thethree shunt resistors may be provided if necessary.

In another embodiment, the inverter 350 may be connected to a commonshunt resistor commonly connected to the first to third phases.

Meanwhile, the switches in the inverters 351, 352, 353 perform on/offoperations for each of the switches based on an inverter switchingcontrol signal generated by the control unit 380. Accordingly,three-phase AC power having a predetermined frequency is output to themotor 360.

The control unit 380 may control the switching operation of the inverter351, 352, 353 based on a sensorless method. Specifically, the controlunit 380 may control the switching operation of the inverter 350 using amotor phase current detected by the current sensor of the sensing unit340.

The control unit 380 outputs an inverter switching control signal to theinverter 351, 352, 353 in order to control the switching operation ofthe inverter 351, 352, 353. Here, the inverter switching control signalis composed of a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching control signal.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the clothing treatment apparatus according to thepresent disclosure includes a plurality of inverters. In FIG. 3A, threemotors 360 and inverters 350 for driving the compressor of the drum 301,the blower fan 302, and the heat pump 303 are shown, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in case of a structurein which the drum 301 and the blower fan 302 are driven by one motor,and the compressor of the heat pump 303 is driven by another motor, itmay include two motors and two inverters.

Since power consumption may increase as the number of invertersincreases, the present disclosure proposes a clothing treatmentapparatus including the converter 370.

The converter 370 converts commercial AC power into DC power and outputsthe converted DC power. More specifically, the converter 370 may convertsingle-phase AC power or three-phase AC power into DC power and outputthe converted DC power. Depending on the type of commercial AC power,the internal structure of the converter 370 also varies.

Meanwhile, the converter 370 may be composed of a diode or the likewithout any switching element to perform a rectification operationwithout a separate switching operation.

For example, in case of single-phase AC power, four diodes may be usedin the form of a bridge, and in case of three-phase AC power, six diodesmay be used in the form of a bridge.

On the other hand, for the converter 370, a half-bridge type converterin which two switching elements and four diodes are connected, forexample, may be used, and in case of three-phase AC power, six switchingelements and six diodes may be used.

When the converter 370 includes switching elements, step-up operation,power factor improvement, and DC power conversion may be performed by aswitching operation of the relevant switching element.

The valve unit 391 is disposed at one point of a passage provided in theclothing treatment apparatus to control the flow of the relevantpassage. The pump unit 392 may provide a driving force for supplying gasor liquid to the passage.

In addition, the auxiliary heater unit 393 may be provided separatelyfrom the heat pump to supply heat into the drum. The auxiliary heaterunit 393 may heat air flowing into the drum.

The control unit 380 may control components included in the clothingtreatment apparatus.

First, the control unit 380 may generate at least one of a power commandvalue, a current command value, a voltage command value, and a speedcommand value corresponding to the motor in order to control therotation of the motor 360.

Specifically, the control unit 380 may calculate the power or load ofthe motor 360 based on the output of the sensing unit 340. Specifically,the control unit 380 may calculate a rotation speed of the motor using aphase current value sensed by the current sensor of the sensing unit340.

Furthermore, the control unit 380 may generate a power command valuecorresponding to the motor, and may calculate a difference between thegenerated power command value and the calculated power. In addition, thecontrol unit 380 may generate a speed command value of the motor basedon a difference between the power command value and the calculatedpower.

Moreover, the control unit 380 may compute a difference between a speedcommand value of the motor and the computed rotation speed of the motor.In this case, the control unit 380 may generate a current command valueapplied to the motor based on a difference between the speed commandvalue and the calculated rotation speed.

In one example, the control unit 380 may generate at least one of aq-axis current command value and a d-axis current command value.

Meanwhile, the control unit 380 may convert the current command valueinto a phase current of the stationary coordinate system or a phasecurrent of the rotating coordinate system based on a phase currentsensed by the current sensor. The control unit 380 may generate avoltage command value applied to the motor using the converted phasecurrent and the current command value.

By performing such a process, the control unit 380 generates an inverterswitching control signal according to a PWM method.

The control unit 380 may adjust a duty ratio of a switch included in theinverter using an inverter switching control signal.

Furthermore, the control unit 380 may control an operation of at leastone of a drum, a blower fan, and a heat pump based on a control commandreceived by the input unit 310.

In one example, the control unit 380 may control the rotation pattern ofthe drum based on a user input applied to the input unit 310.

In another example, the control unit 380 may control the rotationalspeed or operation time point of the blower fan based on a user inputapplied to the input unit 310.

In another example, the control unit 380 may control the output of theheat pump to adjust the temperature in the drum based on a user inputapplied to the input unit 310.

In FIG. 3B below, a control circuit of the clothing treatment apparatusaccording to the present disclosure will be described.

The control circuit included in the clothing treatment apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may further include a converter 370,a DC end voltage detector (B), a smoothing capacitor (Vdc), a pluralityof shunt resistors, a plurality of inverters 351, 352, 353, and aplurality of diodes (D, BD), a reactor (L), and the like.

The reactor (L) is disposed between the commercial AC power source (Vin)and the converter 370 to perform power factor correction or step-upoperation. In addition, the reactor (L) may perform a function oflimiting harmonic current due to high-speed switching of the converter370.

The converter 370 converts the commercial AC power (Vin) passed throughthe reactor (L) into DC power to outputs the converted DC power. In thedrawing, the commercial AC power (Vin) is shown as single-phase ACpower, but may also be three-phase AC power.

The smoothing capacitor (Vdc) smooths the input power and stores it. Inthe drawings, a single device is illustrated as a smoothing capacitor(Vdc), but a plurality of devices may be provided to ensure devicestability. Meanwhile, since DC power is stored at both ends of thesmoothing capacitor (Vdc), they may be referred to as dc ends or dc linkends.

The control unit 380 may detect input current received from thecommercial AC power 405 using a shunt resistor provided in the converter370. In addition, the control unit 380 may detect the phase current ofthe motor using a shunt resistor (Rin) provided in the inverter 350.

[Clothing Treatment Apparatus and Control Method Thereof]

Hereinafter, embodiments of a clothing treatment apparatus and a controlmethod thereof according to the present disclosure will be described,but a portion overlapping with the above description will be omitted asmuch as possible.

First, an embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatus and a controlmethod thereof according to the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 .

An embodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according to thepresent disclosure includes a main body defining an appearance thereof,a drum 301 that accommodates an object to be dried, which is rotatablyprovided inside the main body, a compressor 1120 of a heat pump 303 thatcompresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to pass through acondenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum 301 when moistureis removed from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, ablower fan 302 that generates a flow of the heated air or dehumidifiedair, a plurality of inverters 305 that transfer power to at least one ofthe drum 301, the compressor 1120, and the blower fan 302, a converter370 that converts input power received from the outside to output theconverted power to the inverters 305, and a control unit 380 thatgenerates command information corresponding to the plurality ofinverters 350 to control the converter 370 based on the generatedcommand information.

In FIG. 4 , a control method of a clothing treatment apparatus includinga plurality of inverters 350 and converters 370 as described above willbe described.

The control unit 380 may select an operation mode of the first to thirdmotors 361, 362, 363 (S41).

Furthermore, the control unit 380 may generate a command related to theoperation of the first to third inverters 351, 352, 353 based on theselected operation mode (S42).

In addition, the control unit 380 may control the operation of theconverter 370 based on a command related to the operation of theinverter 350 (S43).

Specifically, the control unit 380 may generate command informationcorresponding to the plurality of inverters 350, and control theconverter 370 based on the generated command information.

In other words, the control unit 380 may generate a first switchingsignal, a second switching signal, and a third switching signalcorresponding to the first to third inverters 351, 352, 353,respectively, and control the operation of the converter 370 based onthe generated first to third switching signals.

For example, the control unit 380 may determine an on/off time point ofthe converter 370 based on the generated first to third switchingsignals, or set a duty ratio of a switch included in the converter 370.

In one embodiment, the control unit 380 may detect a magnitude of loadapplied to the first to third inverters 351, 352, 353, and control theoperation of the converter 370 based on the detected magnitude.

In other words, when the magnitude of load applied to the first to thirdinverters 351, 352, 353 exceeds a predetermined reference load value,the control unit 380 may control the converter 370 to activate theconverter. Furthermore, the control unit 380 may change a duty ratiocorresponding to the converter 370 according to the detected magnitudeof load.

Meanwhile, in performing the step (S401) of selecting the operation modeof the first to third motors, the control unit 380 may select theoperation mode of the first to third motors 361, 362, 363 based on auser input applied to the input unit 310 of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000.

In other words, the input unit 310 may receive a user input for settingan operation mode. The control unit 380 may set an operation mode of theplurality of motors 360 or control an operation of the converter 370based on a user input applied to the input unit 310.

In another embodiment, the control unit 380 may control the converter370 based on an operation time of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000that is set by a user input. In other words, the control unit 380 mayset the duty ratio, operation time and the like of the converter 370according to the operation time of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000that is set by the user.

In another embodiment, the control unit 380 may control the converter370 based on the temperature of hot air supplied into the drum 301 thatis set by a user input. For example, when the temperature of hot airthat is set by the user passes a preset reference temperature value, thecontrol unit 380 may increase the driving time of the converter 370compared to the driving time of the moto.

Meanwhile, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the presentdisclosure may include a weight sensing unit (not shown) for sensing theweight of an object to be dried accommodated in the drum 301. In thiscase, the control unit 380 may control the operation of the converter370 based on a weight of the object to be dried accommodated in the drum301.

In one embodiment, the control unit 380 may set the outputs of the firstto third inverters 351, 352, 353, respectively, based on a set operationmode of the clothing treatment apparatus, and control the operation ofthe converter 370 based on the outputs of the first to third inverters351, 352, 353.

In addition, the control unit 380 may detect a voltage level of inputpower, and distribute the output of the converter 370 based on thedetected level. Although not shown in the drawing, a circuit fordistributing the output of the converter 370 may be configured with aplurality of resistors.

For example, when the voltage level of the input power is included in afirst voltage range, the control unit 380 may control only a portioncorresponding to a first ratio of a total output of the converter 370 tothe first to third inverters 351, 352, 353. Likewise, when the voltagelevel of the input power is included in a second voltage range, thecontrol unit 380 may transfer only a portion corresponding to a secondratio of the total output of the converter 370 to the first to thirdinverters 351, 352, 353. In this case, the first voltage range and thesecond voltage range are different from each other, and the first ratioand the second ratio are preferably set differently.

In addition, the control unit 380 may control a switching operation ofthe converter 370 by receiving feedback from the output of the converter370. Specifically, the control unit 380 may generate the switchingfrequency and duty ratio of the converter that are set based on theoperation mode of the inverter, and then compare an actual output of theconverter with the set switching frequency and duty ratio to adjust theswitching operation of the converter 370.

An embodiment in which the control method shown in FIG. 4 is morespecifically implemented is shown in FIG. 5 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , after selecting the operation mode of the first tothird motors 361, 362, 363 (S41), the control unit 380 may sense theoutputs of the first to third inverters 351, 352, 353 (S51).

In addition, the control unit 380 may compute a first power loadrequired to rotate the drum (S52), and compute a second power loadrequired to drive the compressor (S53), and compute a third power loadrequired to drive the fan (S54).

Furthermore, the control unit 380 may generate a switching signal of theconverter 370 based on the computed first to third power loads (S55).

According to such an embodiment, a control circuit having a plurality ofinverters and a converter may be stably driven, and the driving of theconverter may be controlled under conditions requiring high output,thereby improving drying performance.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatus and acontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12 .

Another embodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according tothe present disclosure includes a main body defining an appearancethereof, a drum 301 that accommodates an object to be dried, which isrotatably provided inside the main body, a compressor 1120 of a heatpump 303 that compresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to passthrough a condenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum 301when moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to bedried, a blower fan 302 that generates a flow of the heated air ordehumidified air, a converter 370 that converts input power receivedfrom the outside to output the converted power to at least one of afirst motor 361 that rotates the drum 301, a second motor 362 thatdrives the blower fan 302, and a third motor 363 that drives thecompressor 1120, and a control unit 380 that controls the switchingelements of the converter 370 in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode,

Referring to FIG. 6 , an embodiment of controlling the switching periods(T1, T2) of the converter 370 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the control unit 380 variably sets a switchingperiod, which is a period for generating a PWM signal for operating theconverter 370.

The control unit 380 according to the present disclosure generates asecond PWM signal 402 subsequent to generating a first PWM signal 401,and generates a third PWM signal 403 subsequent to generating the secondPWM signal 402.

In addition, the control unit 380 may differently set a first switchingperiod (T1), which is an interval between a time point of generating thefirst PWM signal 401 and a time point of generating the second PWMsignal 402, and a second switching period (T2), which is an intervalbetween a time point of generating the second PWM signal 402 and a timepoint of generating the third PWM signal 403.

Referring to FIG. 7 , an embodiment of randomly setting a switchingperiod is shown.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the control unit 380 may randomly select any oneswitching period value within a predetermined range 500, thereby settinga switching period. The randomly selected switching period value is setto be smaller than a preset upper limit value (R2) and greater than alower limit value (R1).

Although not shown in FIG. 7 , when the switching period value israndomly selected, the control unit 380 may set the predetermined range500 to exclude the first switching period (T1) in order to prevent thefirst switching period (T1) and the second switching period (T2) frombeing set to be the same.

In another embodiment, the control unit 380 may randomly select any oneof a plurality of preset switching period values whenever any one PWMsignal is generated.

In addition, the control unit 380 may generate the next PWM controlsignal after the any one PWM control signal is generated, based on theselected switching period value.

In other words, the control unit 380 may set a switching periodcorresponding to a PWM signal to be generated next time while at thesame time generating a PWM signal.

Meanwhile, the control unit 380 may randomly determine a switchingperiod, but may set a switching period such that the determinedswitching period is included within a preset switching period range.

In FIG. 8 , an embodiment of changing the switching period according toa predetermined pattern is shown.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the control unit 380 may change a switching periodaccording to a predetermined pattern. In other words, the control unit380 may set the second switching period (T2) by increasing or decreasinga predetermined value from the first switching period (T1).

For example, the control unit 380 may set an initial switching period asan average value of the upper limit value (R2) and the lower limit value(R1), and increase a second switching period to the upper limit value.Furthermore, the control unit 380 may reduce a third switching period toan average value of the upper limit value (R2) and the lower limit value(R1) again, and reduce a fourth switching period to the lower limitvalue (R1).

Referring to FIG. 9 , an embodiment of setting the switching periodaccording to a predetermined order is shown.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the control unit 380 may sequentially set theswitching period using table information 700 in which a plurality ofswitching period values are matched with a sequence corresponding toeach switching period value.

Specifically, whenever any one PWM signal is generated, the control unit380 may select any one of a plurality of preset switching period valuesin a predetermined order. Then, the control unit 380 may generate a nextPWM signal using a switching period selected according to apredetermined order.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which a setting range of the switchingperiod is variably set.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the control unit 380 may set a switching periodrange differently according to an operating load of the clothingtreatment apparatus.

In one example, the control unit 380 may detect a magnitude of loadapplied to the first to third motors 361, 362, 363, and set a switchingperiod range based on the detected magnitude of load. The control unit380 may detect a magnitude of load applied to each motor using at leastone of a current flowing through the motor, a voltage applied to themotor, and a PWM signal corresponding to the motor.

In another example, the control unit 380 may detect a magnitude of loadapplied to the first to third motors 361, 362, 363, and determinewhether the detected magnitude load is above a preset limit load value.

When the detected magnitude of load is above a preset limit load value,the control unit 380 may fix the switching frequency to a presetfrequency value. In this way, when the load is abnormally increased, theswitching frequency is not variably set to use a fixed switchingfrequency.

Meanwhile, the control unit 380 may detect a heat value generated by theconverter 370. In one example, the control unit 380 may compute theamount of energy generated from the converter 370 based on the amount ofcurrent flowing through the converter 370.

In addition, the control unit 380 may maintain the switching period asone period value when the sensed heat value is less than a preset limitheat value. In other words, the control unit 380 may control theconverter 370 using a fixed switching period when the sensed heat valueis less than a limit heat value.

On the contrary, the control unit 380 may variably set the switchingperiod using any one of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 when thedetected heat value exceeds a preset limit heat value.

Meanwhile, the control unit 380 may increase or decrease a change widthof the switching period based on the weight of a fabric accommodated inthe drum.

In one embodiment, the control unit 380 may increase a change width ofthe switching period when the weight of fabric accommodated in the drumexceeds a preset limit weight.

In another embodiment, as the weight of fabric accommodated in the drumincreases, the control unit 380 may increase a width change of theswitching period.

For reference, the control unit 380 may detect the weight of fabricaccommodated in the drum using information sensed by the sensing unit340. The control unit 380 may rotate the drum in a predetermined patternin order to sense the weight of fabric, and at this time, the sensingunit 340 may sense a current flowing through a motor that rotates thedrum or a voltage applied to the motor that rotates the drum.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the EMI noise of a typical converter, andFIG. 12 is a graph showing the EMI noise of a converter according to theforegoing embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12 , the switching period of theconverter may be variably set, thereby confirming that EMI noisegenerated from a typical converter is significantly suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the heat value may be reduced by variablysetting the switching period of the converter, and the amplitude ofnoise may be reduced by randomly setting the switching period of theconverter, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise may be reducedby variably setting the switching period of the converter.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatus and acontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 13 to 17 .

Another embodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according tothe present disclosure includes a drum 301 that accommodates an objectto be dried, which is rotatably provided inside the main body, a drummotor 361 that drives the drum 301, and a control unit 380 that controlsthe operation and rotational speed (RPM) of the drum motor 361 in theclothing treatment apparatus 1000 for driving the drum 301. When adrying operation is initiated subsequent to placing an object to bedried into the drum 301, the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 dries theobject to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 in such a manner thathot air is blown into the drum 301 while rotating the drum 301 and theblower fan 302.

Furthermore, the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according to thepresent disclosure controls the drum motor 361 without any additionalsensor for detecting the rotor position of the drum motor 361, that is,by a sensorless method, and to this end, the driving of the inverter 351is controlled by controlling a switching element in the inverter 351that supplies power to the drum motor 361.

Meanwhile, the drum motor 361 may simultaneously drive the drum 301 andthe blower fan 302 that generates a flow of heated air or dehumidifiedair. In other words, the drum motor 361 may provide a rotational forceto not only the drum 301 but also the blower fan 302 at the same time.To this end, one drum motor 361 may be provided with a plurality ofoutput shafts (or rotation shafts), and in this case, a driving force ofthe drum motor 361 may be transmitted to the drum 301 and the blower fan302 through a pulley and a belt connected to each output shaft. At thistime, the drum 301 and the blower fan 302 may be rotated at differentrotation speeds.

However, the structure is not limited thereto, and embodiments accordingto the present disclosure may, of course, be applicable to a structurein which a separate fan motor 362 for driving the blower fan 302 isadded as described above. In this case, the inverter 351 that suppliesdriving power to the drum motor 361, the inverter 352 that suppliesdriving power to the fan motor 362, and the inverter 353 that suppliesdriving power to the compressor of the heat pump 303 are separatelyprovided according to the control signal of the control unit 380.

As the number of inverters 351, 352, 353 increases, the total load andpower consumption of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 alsoincrease, and the converter 370 for converting and boosting input ACpower into DC power may be connected to the inverters 351, 352, 353 tosolve the problem. The converter 370 converts input AC power into DCpower, and the converted DC power is stored in a DC link capacitor. Inother words, a DC link capacitor is provided between the converter 370and the inverters 351, 352, 353.

The inverters 351, 352, 353 convert DC power stored in the DC linkcapacitor into AC power, and supply the AC power to the motors 361, 362,363 of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 by a switching operation ofa switching element provided therein, thereby driving the drum 301, thecompressor, and the blower fan 302 of the clothing treatment apparatus1000.

When the drying operation of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 isinitiated, the blower fan 302 is driven. In addition, the drum 301 maybe driven together when the blower fan 302 is driven, or may be driventogether with the compressor of the heat pump 303 after the blower fan302 is driven. As described above, when the blower fan 302, the drum301, and the compressor of the heat pump 303 are all driven, a magnitudeof load increases, and accordingly, a voltage of the link capacitor thatsupplies DC power to the inverter 360 that drives the motor 360 drops.

In connection with this, FIG. 13 shows a relationship between thedriving speed and the output voltage of the compressor of the heat pump303 as the drying operation proceeds.

Referring to FIG. 13 , as the drying operation of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000 proceeds, the load of the clothing treatment apparatus1000 increases.

Specifically, as the drying operation proceeds, the load of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000 is gradually increased due to the driving ofthe blower fan 302, the rotation of the drum 301, the driving of thecompressor of the heat pump 303 for air circulation, the weight of thedrum 301, and the falling and agglomeration of an object to be driedaccommodated in the drum 301.

In particular, as a driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump 303increases, discharge pressure gradually increases, which is one of thebiggest factors for increasing the load of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000.

As shown in FIG. 13 , when a driving frequency 1 of the compressor ofthe heat pump 303 is increased step-by-step, an actual driving speed 2of the compressor of the heat pump 303 is increased to a greater width,thereby increasing a load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000, andincreasing a drop distance of the output voltage 3.

For example, in FIG. 13 , it may be seen that a magnitude of the outputvoltage 403 that was close to 300V in an initial driving sectiondecreases to about 220V as a driving frequency 401 of the compressor ofthe heat pump 303 increases. When the output voltage is lowered in thisway, drying efficiency and control stability are reduced.

Therefore, in order to solve a voltage drop due to a load that increasesas the drying operation of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000proceeds, it is required to drive the converter 370 for providing aboosted voltage.

Accordingly, the control unit 380 of the clothing treatment apparatus1000 according to the present disclosure drives the converter 370 in afirst operation mode in which pulse width modulation duty is limitedsubsequent to driving the blower fan 302, and the first operation modeis switched to a second operation mode in which the limitation of thepulse width modulation duty is released to drive the converter 370 whena predetermined condition is satisfied.

Here, the predetermined condition may be whether the load of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000 reaches a predetermined magnitude.Whether or not the load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 hasreached a predetermined magnitude may be confirmed or estimated bymonitoring, for example, a driving speed of the compressor of the heatpump 303, which is one of the biggest factors for increasing the load, amagnitude of the output voltage, a magnitude of the output current, andthe like.

In other words, the magnitude of load of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000, which is a condition for converting the converter 370 tothe second operation mode, does not need to be accurately computed, andis enough to be about the magnitude of load determined to be above apredetermined level that is estimated based on the driving speed of thecompressor of the heat pump 303.

During the operation in the first operation mode, the output voltageoutput from the converter 370 to the DC link capacitor increasesaccording to the limitation of the pulse width modulation duty. In otherwords, only boosting is performed without outputting the pulse widthmodulation duty.

As described above, the reason why the converter 370 is operated in thefirst operation mode is because the converter 370 tends to furtherincrease the magnitude of leakage current in an initial driving period.In other words, a leakage current value according to the driving ofother loads of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000, for example, thedrum 301, the blower fan 302, and the compressor of the heat pump 303,and a leakage current value according to the driving of the inverter 370may be added to generate an overshoot.

Meanwhile, during the operation in the second operation mode, the pulsewidth modulation duty varied within a predetermined limit current valueis output to the inverters 351, 352, 353. Accordingly, even when theload is increased, the motors 361, 362, 363 may be stably driven.

Hereinafter, FIG. 14 is a flowchart for more specifically explaining amethod of selectively performing a first operation mode or a secondoperation mode when a converter is driven after initiating a dryingoperation of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14 , first, according to an input of a control commandfor a drying operation, a drying operation is initiated (S1). The inputof the control command for the drying operation is carried out throughan input signal received by the input unit 310 of the clothing treatmentapparatus 1000, and the input signal may be generated through a push ofa power button, a specific voice command, sensing a set time, or thelike.

Then, the motor 360 is driven based on the control command from thecontrol unit 380 to drive the blower fan 302 (S2). Subsequently, thedrum 301 of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 is rotated to sensethe laundry amount of an object to be dried.

Then, a single converter 370 connected to a plurality of inverters 350for driving the drum 301, the blower fan 302, and the motor of the heatpump 303 in the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 is driven. To thisend, the control unit 380 transfers a predetermined voltage commandvalue to the converter 370 to allow the converter 370 to output a DCvoltage corresponding to the predetermined voltage command value.

When the converter 370 is driven, the control unit 380 controls theswitching operation of the converter 370 to drive the converter in afirst operation mode in which the pulse width modulation (PWM) duty islimited (S3).

In other words, in the initial driving of the converter 370, the firstoperation mode is performed at a driving time point of the converter 370regardless of a magnitude of load of the clothing treatment apparatus1000, thereby blocking the possibility of overshooting due to leakagecurrent from the beginning.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment, the first operation mode may be performedsimultaneously with the driving of the compressor of the heat pump 303subsequent to the driving of the blower fan 302. Furthermore, in anotherexample, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed subsequent todriving the drum 301, the heat pump 303, and the compressor of theblower fan 302, the converter 370 may be driven in the first operationmode.

While the drying operation is in progress, the control unit 380 maydetermine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied (S4).

Here, the predetermined condition may be, for example, whether at leastone of a magnitude of load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 oran output voltage of the converter 370, an output current, a drivingspeed of the motor 360, a speed command value of the heat pump 303 ofthe compressor, and an input current/input voltage of the inverter 360exceeds a predetermined value. Here, the magnitude of load may bedetermined by an output current applied to the motor 363 that drives thecompressor of the heat pump 303, an output voltage, a driving frequencyof the motor 363, an operation mode of the clothing treatment apparatus1000, a set time, and the like, or a combination thereof.

Alternatively, the predetermined condition may simply denote that apredetermined period of time elapses subsequent to performing the firstoperation mode.

When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the control unit 380controls the switching operation of the converter 370 in the secondoperation mode in which the limitation of the pulse width modulationduty is released (S5).

Specifically, the control unit 380 may perform the second operation modeof generating a control signal for varying an operating frequency of theconverter 370 based on a load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000.

To this end, the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according to thepresent disclosure may include a load detection unit (not shown) thatdetects a load. The load detection unit includes a speed detection unitthat detects a driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump 303,and/or a current detection unit that detects an output current outputfrom the inverter 353 to the motor of the compressor of the heat pump303.

Specifically, the control unit 380 determines whether the detectedmagnitude of load has reached a predetermined level based on themagnitude of the load detected through the load detection unit, andswitches to the second operation mode when the detected magnitude ofload reaches the predetermined level to generate a control signal forincreasing the driving frequency of the converter 370 and then output itto the converter 370.

When the compressor of the heat pump 303 is initially driven, theleakage current value may suddenly increase as the discharge pressureincreases, but after that, as the driving speed increases step-by-stepor is maintained at a target speed, the leakage current value ismaintained or decreased. Therefore, when the converter 370 is switchedto the second operation mode after a predetermined period of time haselapsed subsequent to driving the compressor of the heat pump 303,overshoot does not occur.

The control unit 380 may generate a control signal of the converter 370and the inverter 350 based on a driving command and a driving speed ofthe compressor of the heat pump 303.

Alternatively, in another example, the control unit 380 may generate acontrol signal of the converter 370 and the inverter 350 using a drivingcommand and an output current output to the motor 363 of the compressorof the heat pump 303. Here, the detection of the output current may beperformed through a shunt resistor in a circuit of the converter 370.

On the other hand, even during the second operation mode of theconverter 370, when the magnitude of load estimated from the drivingspeed of the compressor of the heat pump 303 increases to get out of apredetermined range, the control unit 380 may control the operatingfrequency to increase.

Similarly, the control unit 380 maintains the operating frequency whenthere is no change in the magnitude of load computed from the drivingspeed of the compressor of the heat pump 303 during the second operationmode, and decreases the operating frequency when the magnitude of loadis reduced less than the threshold value.

For example, when the driving frequency of the compressor of the heatpump 303 is increased to increase an output current of the correspondinginverter 351, the control unit 380 may increase the operating frequencyof the converter 370. In addition, when the driving frequency of thecompressor of the heat pump 303 is decreased to reduce an output currentof the corresponding inverter 351, the control unit 380 may reduce theoperating frequency of the converter 370.

Here, the operating frequency of the converter 370 may be a pulse widthmodulation duty signal. When the driving frequency of the compressor ofthe heat pump 303 changes from low to high, the pulse width modulationduty of the converter 370 is also varied.

As a result, even after the magnitude of load increases above apredetermined level and the first operation mode is switched to thesecond operation mode, the pulse width modulation duty varied accordingto the load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 is output to theconverter 370.

In one embodiment, when switching from the first operation mode to thesecond operation mode, the pulse width modulation duty may be graduallychanged by applying a slope to the control signal of the switchingoperation. Accordingly, it may be possible to block the occurrence of aninrush current due to a sudden change in the pulse width modulationduty.

Even when the pulse width modulation duty limit is released according tothe execution of the second operation mode, the execution section of thesecond operation mode may be divided into a plurality of sections tocontrol the converter 370 in such a manner that the pulse widthmodulation duty is output as the lowest duty in an initial section, anda gradually increasing pulse width modulation duty is output in asubsequent section, and the maximum duty is output to correspond to apredetermined voltage command value in the next stabilization section.

In addition, even during the second operation mode, the control unit 380may control to further increase an output voltage of the converter 370when the magnitude of a DC voltage stored in the DC link capacitorbecomes less than a preset reference voltage.

In addition, the control unit 380 may increase an output voltage of theconverter 370 when an input current input to the motor 362 of thecompressor of the heat pump 303, that is, an output current of theinverter 352, increases, and decrease the output voltage of theconverter 370 when the output current of the inverter 352 decreases.

Here, the control signal of the switching operation for controlling theconverter 370 denotes a switching signal for changing the duty cycle ofa plurality of switching elements provided in the converter 370.

In another embodiment, when it is detected that a current value of theoutput current of the inverter 352 exceeds a threshold value for apredetermined number of times or more while the converter 370 isoperating in the second operation mode, the controller 380 may reduce apredetermined magnitude of the limit current value.

In this case, the reduction in the magnitude of the predetermined limitcurrent value may be performed by reducing the pulse width modulationduty for a predetermined time.

Specifically, the control unit 380 may perform a pulse width modulation(PWM) switching operation according to a control signal of a pulse widthmodulation (PWM) duty corresponding to the reduced limit current value,thereby outputting an output current lower than before. The converter370 may set a pulse width modulation (PWM) duty value corresponding tothe reduced output current, and perform pulse width modulation (PWM)switching according to the set pulse width modulation (PWM) duty,thereby reducing the output current of the converter 370.

In addition, the control unit 380 may further increase the outputcurrent reduction amount as the amount or number of times that theoutput current of the converter 370 exceeds the limit current valueincreases, thereby allowing the output current of the converter 370 tobe less than the limit current within a short period of time.

For another example, when it is determined that an output currentsupplied to various loads of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000through an output end of the converter 370, specifically, the inverter350 for driving the motor, exceeds the current limit value while theconverter 370 is operated in a second operation mode, the control unit380 may limit the output current for a predetermined period of time(e.g., 3 to 5 seconds), thereby preventing the driving of the converter370 from being stopped due to an overshooting of leakage current.

To this end, the output current of the converter is reduced for 5seconds, and the counter value may be initialized after 5 seconds. Inother words, when a predetermined period of time elapses, for instance,the relevant control field control value may be changed to supply theoutput current from the output end of the converter 370 to various loadsof the clothing treatment apparatus 1000.

Hereinafter, FIGS. 15A and 15B are graphs for explaining theovershooting of a leakage current according to the magnitude of loadwhen the converter 370 is driven after initiating a drying operation inthe clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according to the presentdisclosure.

In FIGS. 15A and 15B, when a drying operation initiation command of theclothing treatment apparatus 1000 is received, the blower fan 302 isdriven, and subsequently, a first section (PT) in which a process ofsensing the amount of an object to be dried by the rotation of the drum301 is performed is carried out. Here, the first section (PT) is shownto be about 600 to 700 time periods, but this is an example, and mayvary depending on the laundry amount and laundry state of an object tobe dried accommodated in the drum 301.

Next, in a second section, the compressor of the heat pump 303 in theclothing treatment apparatus is driven to perform the actual drying ofan object to be dried. In the second section, since the blower fan 302,the drum 301, and the compressor of the heat pump 303 are driventogether, the load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 suddenlyincreases. Therefore, the driving of the converter 370 is required toreach a target voltage during the drying operation.

FIG. 15A shows a graph in which a leakage current value 601 during atypical operation of the converter is compared with a leakage currentvalue 602 during an operation of the converter at the maximum duty, asleakage current values when the converter 370 is operated when the drum301 and the compressor of the heat pump 303 are driven (620) subsequentto the first section (PT), which is a laundry amount sensing section.

As shown in FIG. 15A, although there is a slight time difference, it maybe seen that an overshoot 610 of the leakage current value occurs inboth cases after sensing the amount of an object to be dried.Specifically, it may be seen that an overshoot occurs first when theconverter is operated at the maximum duty, and then an overshoot occursduring a typical general operation of the converter.

FIG. 15B shows graphs in which a leak current value 603 when theconverter 370 is operated, and a leak current value 604 when theconverter 370 is not operated at all, after a predetermined period oftime has elapsed subsequent to the driving (620) of the drum 301 and thecompressor of the heat pump 303 after the first section (PT), which is alaundry amount sensing section, are compared with a leakage currentvalue 605 when the converter 370 is not operated until the first section(PT) and the driving of the compressor of the heat pump 303, butoperated only after a predetermined period of time has elapsedsubsequent to driving the compressor.

When the converter 370 is not operated at all, as shown in graph 604,there is no possibility of an overshoot of leakage current, but voltagedecreases due to an increase in power consumption. Accordingly, thecontrol stability of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 such as apossibility of stopping the operation of the compressor is deteriorated.

Accordingly, when the converter 370 is operated after a predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed subsequent to driving the compressor, thereis no occurrence of an overshoot as seen in graphs 603 or 605, but atime point of driving the converter 370 should be determined bycomprehensively considering a timer check subsequent to driving thecompressor and the possibility of stopping the driving of the compressorthrough continuous monitoring of the output current and output voltage.If an error occurs in the middle, the driving of the compressor may bestopped due to an increase in power consumption because of missing atime point of driving the converter 370, or drying efficiency maydecrease due to a decrease in output voltage.

Accordingly, in the present disclosure, it is not required to separatelycompute the driving time of the converter 370, and pulse widthmodulation duty is limited at the beginning of the driving of theconverter 370 to achieve only the boosting of the output voltage. Inother words, when the converter 370 is driven, the output of the pulsewidth modulation duty is immediately limited regardless of the load ofthe clothing treatment apparatus 1000.

Then, when the load of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 increasesover time, the operation of the converter 370 may be controlled byreleasing the duty limit to release a variable pulse width modulationduty, thereby solving the foregoing problem.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a method of selectively performing afirst operation mode or a second operation mode according to a drivingspeed of a compressor after initiating a drying operation in theclothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16 , according to an input of a control command for adrying operation of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000, a dryingoperation of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 is initiated (S701).Then, the motor is driven based on the control command from the controlunit 380 to drive the blower fan 302 (S702). In this section, the amountof an object to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 is sensed.

Subsequently, the compressor of the heat pump 303 is driven (S703). Inone embodiment, the compressor of the heat pump 303 may be drivensimultaneously with the drum 301. In other words, the blower fan 302 ofthe clothing treatment apparatus 1000 is driven first, and then thecompressor of the heat pump 303 may be driven with the drum 301.

Next, while the compressor of the heat pump 303 is being driven, adriving speed of the compressor is detected to determine whether it isbelow a predetermined threshold value (S704). In other words, it isdetermined whether the driving speed of the compressor exceeds apredetermined RPM.

As a result of the determination in step S704, when the driving speed ofthe compressor of the heat pump 303 is below a predetermined thresholdvalue, the control period of the switching operation of the converter370 is performed in the first operation mode in which pulse widthmodulation duty is limited to increase the output voltage of theconverter 370 to store it in the DC link capacitor (S705).

Here, the limitation of the pulse width modulation duty may denoteoutputting the pulse width modulation duty by adjusting a ratio ofmaintaining high and low, for example, in such a manner that the pulsewidth modulation duty ratio falls within a range of 25% to 50% based onthe target voltage. Here, the range of 25% to 50% is an example, andmay, of course, be variably applicable according to circumstances.

In one example, the control unit 380 computes the magnitude of loadbased on the driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump 303detected by the speed detection unit, and maintains the foregoing firstoperation mode while the computed magnitude of load is less than apredetermined level. Here, the predetermined level is a preset loadrange, and may be divided into a plurality of levels in advanceaccording to the magnitude of the driving speed of the compressor.

A time point of driving the converter 370 may correspond to a time pointof driving the compressor of the heat pump 303. Alternatively, inanother example, the compressor of the heat pump 303 may be drivenfirst, and then the converter 370 may be driven in the first operationmode after a predetermined period of time elapses.

As a result of the determination in step S704, when the compressor ofthe heat pump 303 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is assumedthat the magnitude of load is above a predetermined level at this time,and the switching operation of the converter 370 may be controlled inthe second operation mode in which a varied pulse width modulation dutyis output according to a predetermined voltage command value. (S706). Inother words, at this time, for example, the limitation of apredetermined duty ratio (e.g., a range of 25% to 50%) may be releasedto output a pulse width modulation signal with a 100% duty ratio whenthe voltage is within a limit voltage.

The switching operation of the converter 370 denotes that a switchingsignal for changing a duty cycle of a plurality of switching elementsprovided in the converter 370 is provided to the converter 370.

While performing the second operation mode, the control unit 380 furtherincreases the operating frequency of the converter 370 as the magnitudeof load increases, and further decreases the operating frequency of theconverter 370 when the magnitude of load decreases. Furthermore, whilethe magnitude of load is maintained at a predetermined level, theoperating frequency of the converter 370 may also be maintained within apredetermined value or within a predetermined range.

To this end, the second operation mode may be divided into a pluralityof operation sections based on the magnitude of load, and then theoperating frequency may be controlled to vary the duty ratio or changerate of the pulse width modulation duty of the converter 370 for eachdivided section. For example, a duty ratio of the pulse width modulationduty is not varied when the driving speed of the compressor of the heatpump 303, that is, RPM, is within an error range of target RPM, and theduty ratio may be increased or decreased only when exceeding the errorrange. Accordingly, the pulse width modulation duty may not besensitively varied, thereby allowing stable driving.

In this way, the control unit 380 may control the converter and theinverters together according to the magnitude of load, thereby ensuringthe control stability of the drying operation.

Furthermore, the control unit 380 may control the switching operation ofthe converter 370 by switching the first operation mode to the secondoperation mode when the computed magnitude of load exceeds thepredetermined level.

In another example, the control unit 380 may perform only the firstoperation mode in which the PWM output is limited, and the outputvoltage of the converter 370 is increased and stored in the DC linkcapacitor while the driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump 303is below a predetermined threshold value. Similarly, when the drivingspeed of the compressor of the heat pump 303 exceeds the predeterminedthreshold value, the switching operation of the converter 370 iscontrolled to output a variable pulse width modulation duty to a setvoltage command value.

As a result, in performing the drying operation of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000 having a plurality of inverters and a singleconverter, the driving of the compressor for performing a dryingoperation may be stably driven with no occurrence of an overshootwithout adjusting the driving point of the converter.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining a method of selectively performinga first operation mode, a second operation mode, and a third operationmode according to the magnitude of the output voltage and output currentof the converter after initiating a drying operation of the clothingtreatment apparatus 1000 according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

In FIG. 17 , when an object to be dried is placed into the drum 301 anda control command for a drying operation is received, the dryingoperation is initiated (S801). Then, the motor is driven based on thecontrol command from the control unit 380 to drive the blower fan(S802). In this section, the amount of an object to be driedaccommodated in the drum 301 may be sensed.

Next, when the compressor of the heat pump 303 for performing an actualdrying operation is driven, the converter 370 is controlled in the firstoperation mode in which the pulse width modulation (PWM) duty is limited(S803). Here, the PWM duty ratio may be limited to 0.3 to 0.5, but isnot limited thereto. As described above, due to the limitation of thePWM duty, the possibility of occurring an overshoot during the drivingof the converter 370 is eliminated.

Then, the output voltage of the converter 370 is monitored to determinewhether it is within a limit voltage (804).

When the output voltage of the converter 370 is above the limit voltage,the process of determining whether the driving speed of the compressorof the heat pump 303 is below a threshold value, which is step S704described in FIG. 16 , and subsequent steps are performed.

For example, when the output voltage of the converter 370 exceeds thelimit voltage, the first operation mode (S705) or the second operationmode (S706) described above according to the magnitude of loadcorresponding to the driving speed of the compressor of the heat pump303 (S706) is performed. In other words, whether to maintain the firstoperation mode or switch to the second operation mode is determinedaccording to the magnitude of load.

Meanwhile, when the output voltage of the converter 370 is less than thelimit voltage, the switching operation of the converter 370 iscontrolled in the second operation mode in which the limitation of thepulse width modulation duty is released (S805).

Then, it is determined whether the output current of the converter 370is less than a limit current value (S806) to perform a third operationmode in which the output voltage of the converter 370 increasesstep-by-step to a predetermined voltage command value when it is lessthan the limit current value (S807).

In other words, the output voltage of the converter 370 is determined bya voltage command value according to the control of the control unit380. Accordingly, the output voltage of the converter 370 is controlledto follow a voltage command value transmitted from the control unit 380.To this end, the control unit 380 may perform PWM switching according toa set pulse width modulation (PWM) duty, thereby allowing the converter370 to output an output voltage corresponding to the voltage commandvalue.

In addition, although not shown, when the output voltage of theconverter 370 reaches a predetermined voltage command value whileperforming the foregoing third operation mode, the control unit 380switches back to the second operation mode to control the switchingoperation of the converter 370 so as to correspond to the set pulsewidth modulation duty.

According to this embodiment, the possibility of occurrence of anovershoot may be eliminated without adjusting a time point of drivingthe load when the converter is driven according to the use of aplurality of inverters, and when the magnitude of load increases, theduty ratio limit may be released to output a variable pulse widthmodulation duty to eliminate the possibility of stopping the driving ofthe compressor and ensure control stability, and the pulse widthmodulation duty output to the converter may be limited or variedaccording to the magnitude of load to adaptively adjust the outputcurrent of the converter while at the same time preventing theovershooting of leakage current.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatus and acontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 18 to 23 .

Another embodiment of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000 according tothe present disclosure includes a main body defining an appearancethereof, a drum 301 that accommodates an object to be dried, which isrotatably provided inside the main body, a compressor 1120 of a heatpump 303 that compresses refrigerant to allow dehumidified air to passthrough a condenser so as to be thermally circulated to the drum 301when moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to bedried, a blower fan 302 that generates a flow of the heated air ordehumidified air, a converter 370 that converts input power receivedfrom the outside to output the converted power to at least one of afirst motor 361 that rotates the drum 301, a second motor 362 thatdrives the blower fan 302, and a third motor 363 that drives thecompressor 1120, and a control unit 380 that controls at least one ofthe converter 370 and the compressor 1120 to drive the converter 370from a second time point later than a first time point at which thecompressor 1120 is driven.

Referring to FIG. 18 , a control method of a clothing treatmentapparatus according to the present disclosure is shown.

As shown in FIG. 18 , when a user input is applied to the input unit,the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus is initiated (S401).

First, the control unit 380 may drive the first motor to rotate the drum(S402).

Specifically, the control unit 380 may sense a load of the clothingtreatment apparatus while driving the drum in a predetermined pattern(S403).

Then, the control unit 380 may drive the second motor to rotate theblower fan (S404).

When the blower fan starts to be driven, the control unit 380 maycontrol the third motor to initiate the operation of the compressor(S405).

In addition, the control unit 380 may initiate the driving of theconverter 370 after a predetermined time interval has elapsed from atime point of initiating the operation of the compressor (S406).

In this way, the control unit 380 according to the present disclosuremay control at least one of the converter 370 and the compressor todrive the converter 370 from a second time point later than a first timepoint at which the compressor is driven.

In one embodiment, the control unit 380 may drive the converter 370after a predetermined time interval elapses from a time point ofinitiating the driving of the compressor.

Referring to FIG. 18 , when the drying operation of the clothingtreatment apparatus is started, the control unit 380 first drives thefirst motor to rotate the drum. Driving the drum with the highestpriority has an effect of visually confirming to the user that thedriving of the clothing treatment apparatus has been initiated.

Then, the control unit 380 may sequentially drive the blower fan and thecompressor, and initiate the driving of the converter 370 after apredetermined time interval elapses subsequent to driving thecompressor.

The control unit 380 may delay a time point of initiating the operationof the converter 370 by a predetermined time from a time point ofinitiating the operation of the compressor or initiating the rotation ofthe drum to reduce the leakage current in the clothing treatmentapparatus.

In other words, the control unit 380 may delay a time point of turningon the converter 370 by a predetermined time from a time point ofinitiating the driving of the first motor or the third motor to reducethe leakage current in the clothing treatment apparatus.

For reference, a graph showing the control method described in FIG. 18will be shown in FIG. 21 .

Referring to FIG. 21 , the rotation of the drum is initiated from afirst time point (T1), and the driving of the blower fan is initiatedfrom a second time point (T2), and the driving of the compressor isinitiated from a third time point (T3). In addition, the driving of theconverter 370 is initiated from a fourth time point (T4) at which apredetermined time interval (Ti) elapses from the third time point (T3)at which the driving of the compressor is initiated.

In FIG. 19 , an embodiment related to a method of controlling a clothingtreatment apparatus according to the present disclosure will bedescribed.

Referring to FIG. 19 , the control unit 380 may detect the magnitude ofload applied to the compressor using information sensed by the sensingunit 340, and control the driving of the converter 370 to change a timeinterval from a time point of initiating the operation of the compressorto a time point of initiating the operation of the converter 370 basedon the detected load.

Specifically, the control unit 380 may determine whether the loadapplied to the compressor increases for each predetermined period(S501).

In one example, the control unit 380 may compute a load applied to thecompressor using a current flowing through a third motor that drives thecompressor sensed by the sensing unit 340 or a voltage applied to thethird motor. Furthermore, the control unit 380 may compute a loadapplied to the compressor based on a sensing result of the weightsensing unit that senses the weight of laundry accommodated in the drum.

In another example, the control unit 380 may control the driving of theconverter 370 based on a speed command value generated in response tothe third motor 363. In other words, the control unit 380 may set aninterval between a time point of driving the converter 370 and a timepoint of driving the compressor using a speed command value generated tocontrol the third motor 363.

Specifically, when a speed command value corresponding to the thirdmotor 363 increases, the control unit 380 may control the driving of theconverter 370 to reduce a time interval from a time point of initiatingthe operation of the compressor to a time point of initiating theoperation of the converter 370.

Conversely, when a speed command value corresponding to the third motor363 decreases, the control unit 380 may control the driving of theconverter to increase the time interval.

In another embodiment, when the magnitude of a voltage applied to thethird motor 363 increases, the control unit 380 may control the drivingof the converter 370 to reduce a time interval from a time point ofinitiating the operation of the compressor to a time point of initiatingthe operation of the converter 370.

In another example, when the magnitude of a current flowing through thethird motor 363 increases, the control unit 380 may control the drivingof the converter 370 to reduce a time interval from a time point ofinitiating the operation of the compressor to a time point of initiatingthe operation of the converter 370.

In another example, the control unit 380 may control the driving of theconverter 370 based on the weight of laundry accommodated in the drum.

Specifically, when the sensed weight of laundry increases, the controlunit 380 may control the driving of the converter 370 to reduce a timeinterval from a time point of initiating the operation of the compressorto a time point of initiating the operation of the converter 370.

Referring to FIG. 19 , when a load applied to the compressor increases,the control unit 380 may advance a time point of initiating theoperation of the converter 370 (S502).

Conversely, when the load applied to the compressor does not increase ordecreases, the control unit 380 may delay a time point of initiating theoperation of the converter 370 (S503).

In other words, the control unit 380 may variably set an intervalbetween a time point of initiating the operation of the compressor and atime point of initiating the operation of the converter 370 according tothe computed magnitude of load.

In FIG. 20 , another embodiment related to a method of controlling aclothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure will bedescribed.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the control unit 380 may determine whether themagnitude of load applied to the compressor is above a preset limit load(S601).

The control unit 380 may drive the compressor and the converter 370 atthe same time when the magnitude of load applied to the compressor isabove the preset limit load (S602).

Conversely, when the magnitude of load applied to the compressor isbelow a preset limit load, the control unit 380 may maintain adifference between a time point of initiating the operation of theconverter 370 and a time point of initiating the operation of thecompressor (S603).

Although not shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 , the control unit 380 may computethe amount of power consumed by the first motor, the second motor, andthe third motor to control the driving of the converter 370 based on thecomputed amount of power.

In the foregoing embodiment, the control unit 380 for setting a timepoint of initiating the driving of the converter 370 based on a timepoint of initiating the driving of the compressor has been described,but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the control unit 380 may set a time point of initiating thedriving of the converter 370 using power applied to the first motor 361rotating the drum or power applied to the second motor 362 rotating theblower fan 302.

FIG. 22 shows an amount of leakage current generated according to amethod of driving the converter.

In a graph shown in FIG. 22 , a first leakage current 801 corresponds toa case where the compressor and the converter 370 are driven at the sametime. A second leakage current 802 corresponds to a case in which theswitching duty of the converter 370 increases to the maximum. A thirdleakage current 803 corresponds to a case of controlling the converter370 using the control method of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 18. A fourth leakage current 804 corresponds to a case of maintaining theconverter 370 in a turn-off state.

As shown in FIG. 22 , an overshoot phenomenon 800 a occurs on the firstleakage current 801 and the second leakage current 802. On the contrary,in case of the third leakage current 803, the overshoot does not occur(800 b).

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a change in voltage (Vdc) applied to a DClink voltage according to an operating frequency of the compressor.

In the graph of FIG. 23 , a command speed 901 of the compressor, a DCend voltage 902, and an actual speed 903 of the compressor are shown.

As shown in FIG. 23 , as the command speed 901 or the actual speed 903of the compressor increases, the magnitude of the DC end voltage 902 maydecrease. Specifically, as the command speed 901 or the actual speed 903of the compressor increases, a drop distance of the DC end voltage 902may increase.

Accordingly, the control unit 380 according to the present disclosuremay control the driving of the converter 370 based on a rotational speedof the compressor in order to prevent a state in which the voltagemargin is insufficient.

In one embodiment, the control unit 380 may activate the driving of theconverter 370 before the third motor 363 reaches a preset speed. Sincethe load of the clothing treatment apparatus increases according to therotational speed of the compressor, a rate of using DC voltage isreduced. Therefore, in order to prevent the DC voltage utilization ratefrom falling below the limit utilization rate, the control unit 380 maycontrol the converter 370 to start the driving of the converter before arotational speed of the compressor increases to the maximum.

In this way, the control unit 380 may monitor a rotational speed of thethird motor 363 in order to turn on the converter before a rotationalspeed of the compressor increases to the maximum.

According to this embodiment, a time point of driving the converter maybe controlled to minimize the occurrence of leakage current, and a timepoint of driving the converter under conditions requiring high outputmay be actively adjusted to secure driving stability and dryingefficiency at the same time.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of a clothing treatment apparatus and acontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 24 to 29 .

Other embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and the controlmethod thereof according to the present disclosure may be divided into{Control device of clothing treatment apparatus}, {Clothing treatmentapparatus}, {Control method 1 of clothing treatment apparatus}, and{Control method 2 of clothing treatment apparatus} for implementation,and may be implemented, and each of the embodiments will be separatelydescribed in order below.

{Control Device of Control Device of Clothing Treatment Apparatus}

A control device of a clothing treatment apparatus according to thepresent disclosure (hereinafter, referred to as a control device), whichis a control device of the clothing treatment apparatus as shown in FIG.3A, may be the control unit 1600 as described above in the basicconfiguration of the clothing treatment apparatus.

The control device may be disposed as a module on a single circuitboard.

A specific circuit configuration of the control device disposed as amodule on a single circuit board may be as shown in FIG. 3B.

As shown in FIG. 24 , the control device 1600 includes a converter 370having a rectifying member 371 that converts AC power input from anexternal power supply into DC power, and a DC link capacitor 372 thatsmooths the DC power converted by the rectifying member 371, a pluralityof inverters 350 having a switching unit that converts the DC powersmoothed by the DC link capacitor 372 into driving power for driving aplurality of motors 360 driving the clothing treatment apparatus tooutput it to the plurality of motors 360, respectively, and a controlunit 380 that generates a control signal for controlling the operationof the converter 370 and the inverters 350 to transfer it to theconverter 370 and the inverters 350, respectively, wherein the controlunit 380 controls the operation of the converter 370 to increase a DClink voltage (Vdc) stored in the DC link capacitor 372 according to apreset increase reference when the clothing treatment apparatus isinitially driven, so as to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) to theincrease reference.

In other words, the control device 1600 controls the operation of theconverter 370 when the clothing treatment apparatus is initially drivento control the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increase based on the increasereference.

When the clothing treatment apparatus is initially driven, a voltagestored in the DC link capacitor 372 is close to zero, and when theinitial driving of the clothing treatment apparatus starts and the DClink voltage (Vdc) rises rapidly, a difference between the previousvalue and the current value increases, thereby increasing an error in acontrol value or an error or a measurement value for controlling theclothing treatment apparatus. In this case, since the initial drivingcontrol of the clothing treatment apparatus becomes unstable due to theerror, it is required to control the DC link voltage (Vdc) to graduallyincrease.

Accordingly, the control device 1600 may control the operation of theconverter 370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to theincrease reference, thereby gradually increasing the DC link voltage tosecure stability for the initial driving control.

The control unit 380 may control a conversion operation of the DC powerof the rectifying member 371 included in the converter 370 to increasethe DC link voltage (Vdc) based on the increase reference.

For instance, the control unit 380 may control the speed or period atwhich the rectifying member 371 converts the AC power into the DC power,thereby controlling the speed at which the DC power is transmitted tothe DC link capacitor 372 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) based onthe increase reference.

The control unit 380 may control the operation of the converter 370 bysequentially increasing a target output value of the DC power outputfrom the converter 370 according to the increase reference.

In other words, the control unit 380 may sequentially increase thetarget output value according to the increase reference to control theoperation of the converter 370, thereby increasing the DC link voltage(Vdc) based on the increase reference.

The increase reference may be a reference for an increase slope or anincrease method of the DC link voltage (Vdc).

In other words, the control unit 380 may increase the target outputvalue according to the increase slope or the increase method to controlthe operation of the converter 370, thereby increasing the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) based on the increase reference.

The increase reference may be a reference for a slope or method ofincreasing the DC link voltage (Vdc) from 0 [V] to a maximum voltagelevel from the initial driving.

The increase reference may be set such that the DC link voltage (Vdc)increases by a predetermined amount per hour up to a maximum voltagelevel.

For example, the DC link voltage (Vdc) may be set to increase from 0 [V]by 5 [V] per second.

The increase reference may be set such that the DC link voltage (Vdc)increases to the maximum voltage level for a predetermined period oftime.

Specific examples of the increase reference and increasing the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) according to the increase reference are as shown in FIGS.25A to 25F.

As shown in FIG. 25A, the increase reference may be set such that the DClink voltage (Vdc) increases to the maximum voltage level (VO) at apredetermined slope for a predetermined period of time (t0) subsequentto the initial driving.

In this case, the control unit 380 may increase the target output valueat the predetermined slope and control the operation of the converter370 so as to control the DC power output to the DC link capacitor 372 toincrease at the predetermined slope, thereby increasing the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) as shown in FIG. 25A.

The increase reference may also be set such that the DC link voltage(Vdc) increases to the maximum voltage level (VO) at a parabolic slopefor a predetermined period of time (t0) after the initial driving, asshown in FIG. 25B or 25C.

In this case, the control unit 380 may increase the target output valueat the parabolic slope and control the operation of the converter 370 soas to control the DC power output to the DC link capacitor 372 toincrease at the parabolic slope, thereby increasing the DC link voltage(Vdc), as shown in FIG. 25B or 25C.

As shown in FIG. 25D, the increase reference may also be set such thatthe DC link voltage (Vdc) increases step-by-step to the maximum voltagelevel (VO) for a predetermined period of time (t0) after the initialdriving.

In this case, the control unit 380 may increase the target output valuestep-by-step and control the operation of the converter 370 so as tocontrol the DC power output to the DC link capacitor 372 to increasestep-by-step, thereby increasing, the DC link voltage (Vdc) as shown inFIG. 25D.

The increase reference is also set such that the DC link voltage (Vdc)increases to the maximum voltage level (VO) at a predetermined slope foreach predetermined section (0-ta and ta-t0) after the initial driving,as shown in FIG. 25E or 25F.

In this case, the control unit 380 may increase the target output valueat a predetermined slope for each predetermined section (0-ta and ta-t0)and control the operation of the converter 370 so as to control the DCpower output to the DC link capacitor 372 to increase at a predeterminedslope for each predetermined section (0-ta and ta-t0), therebyincreasing the DC link voltage (Vdc), as shown in FIG. 25E or 25F.

Here, the predetermined slope for each predetermined section (0-ta andta-t0) may be set differently for each predetermined section (0-ta andta-t0).

In this way, the control unit 380 that controls the operation of theconverter 370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to theincrease reference so as to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) based onthe increase reference may control an increase of the DC link voltage(Vdc) according to the capacity of an object to be dried accommodated inthe drum 310 of the clothing treatment apparatus.

In other words, the control unit 380 may sense the capacity of theobject to be dried accommodated in the drum 310 during the initialdriving (P1), and control the increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc) (P3or P4) based on the sensed capacity (P2), as shown in FIG. 26 .

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity of the object to be driedaccommodated in the drum 310 during the initial driving (P1).

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity accommodated in the drum 310using a sensor included in the sensing unit 340 (P1).

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity accommodated in the drum 310(P1) using at least one of a current sensor, a voltage sensor, avibration sensor, a noise sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a pressuresensor, an infrared sensor, a visual sensor (camera sensor), and atemperature sensor included in the sensing unit 340.

For example, the weight of the drum 340 may be measured using thepressure sensor that senses a pressure applied by the drum 340 to sensethe capacity based on this, or an inner state of the drum 340 may becaptured using the infrared sensor or the visual sensor that senses theinner state of the drum 340 to sense the capacity based on this.

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity (P1), and compare the sensedcapacity with a preset load reference (P2) to control an increase of theDC link voltage (Vdc) according to the comparison result (P3 or P4).

Here, the load reference may be a control reference for the degree ofthe capacity.

In other words, the control unit 380 may compare the capacity and theload reference (P2) to determine whether the capacity is high or low,and control an increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc) according towhether the determined capacity is high or low.

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load reference (P2), whenthe capacity is less than the load reference, the control unit 380 maycontrol the operation of the converter 370 to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) according to the increase reference (P3).

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load criterion (P2), whenthe capacity is less than the load reference, the control unit 380 maydetermine that the capacity accommodated in the drum 340 is low, andcontrol the operation of the converter 370 to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) according to the increase reference (P3).

In other words, when the capacity is less than the load reference, thecontrol unit 380 may determine that the capacity accommodated in thedrum 340 is low so that it is not necessary to rapidly drive theclothing treatment apparatus, in other words, that it is not necessaryto rapidly increase the DC link voltage (Vdc), and control the operationof the converter 370 such that the DC link voltage (Vdc) graduallyincreases according to the increase reference (P3).

When the capacity is less than the load reference, the control unit 380may vary the increase reference according to the capacity to control theoperation of the converter 370 (P3).

In other words, when the capacity is less than the load reference, thecontrol unit 380 may vary the increase reference according to adifference between the capacity and the load reference to control theoperation of the converter 370 (P3).

When the capacity is less than the load reference, the control unit 380may determine that it is not necessary to rapidly increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc), and vary the increase reference to gradually increase theDC link voltage (Vdc) according to a difference between the capacity andthe load reference so as to the operation of the converter 370 (P3).

For example, the control unit 380 may vary a slope of the increasereference according to a difference between the capacity and the loadreference so as to control the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increaseaccording to the degree of the capacity.

The control unit 380 may vary the increase reference so that the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) increases more slowly than the increase reference, or varythe increase reference so that the DC link voltage (Vdc) increases morerapidly than the increase reference according to a difference betweenthe capacity and the load reference.

In other words, the control unit 380 may be vary the reference toincrease or decrease according to a difference between the capacity andthe load reference, thereby varying an increase width of the DC linkvoltage (Vdc).

For instance, the load reference may be varied to decrease the increasereference when the capacity is scarce and significantly less than theload reference, or varied to increase the increase reference when thecapacity is close to the load criterion and there is little difference,thereby controlling the increase reference to increase according to thecapacity.

For a specific example, when the increase reference is set to increaseby 5 [V] per 1 [s], and the capacity corresponds to less than half ofthe increase reference, it may be determined that there is no need toincrease the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to the increase reference,so as to vary the increase reference to increase by 3 [V] per 1 [s],thereby controlling the operation of the converter 370 to increase theDC link voltage (Vdc) by 3 [V] per 1 [s] according to the variedincrease reference (P3).

Alternatively, when the increase reference is set to increase by 5 [V]per 1 [s], and the capacity corresponds to 95 [%] or more of theincrease reference, it may be determined that the DC link voltage (Vdc)is needed to increase more rapidly than the increase reference, so as tovary the increase reference to increase by 7 [V] per 1 [s], therebycontrolling the operation of the converter 370 to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) by 7 [V] per 1 [s] according to the varied increasereference (P3).

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load reference (P2), whenthe capacity is above the load reference, the control unit 380 maycontrol the operation of the converter 370 to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) without depending on the increase reference (P4).

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load criterion (P2), whenthe capacity is above the load reference, the control unit 380 maydetermine that the capacity accommodated in the drum 340 is high, andcontrol the operation of the converter 370 to immediately increase theDC link voltage (Vdc) regardless of the increase reference (P4).

In other words, when the capacity is above the load reference, thecontrol unit 380 may determine that the capacity accommodated in thedrum 340 is high so that it is necessary to immediately drive theclothing treatment apparatus, in other words, that it is necessary toimmediately increase the DC link voltage (Vdc), and control theoperation of the converter 370 such that the DC link voltage (Vdc)immediately increases regardless of the increase reference (P4).

As such, the control device 1600 may control the operation of theconverter 370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to theincrease reference depending on the capacity during the initial driving,so as to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) based on the increasereference, thereby reducing an increase width of the DC link voltage(Vdc) to decrease a difference between the previous value and thecurrent value, that is, an error value between the control periods so asto achieve stable control.

{Clothing Treatment Apparatus}

As shown in FIG. 3A, a clothing treatment apparatus according to thepresent disclosure may include a drum 301 in which an object to be driedis accommodated to perform a drying operation, a blower fan 302 thatpromotes the flow of air inside the clothing treatment apparatus, a heatpump 303 that removes moisture in the air exhausted from the drum 301 toexchange heat, a plurality of motors 360 that drive each of the drum301, the blower fan 302, and the heat pump 303, a converter 370 thatconverts AC power input from an external supply into DC power, aplurality of inverters 350 that receive the DC power from the converter370 to convert into driving power for driving the plurality of motors360 so as to output it to the plurality of motors 360, respectively, anda control unit 380 that controls the operation of the converter 370 andthe inverters 350, wherein the control unit 380 controls an increase ina DC link voltage (Vdc) of a DC link capacitor 372 provided in theconverter 370 according to the capacity of an object to be dried whenthe clothing treatment apparatus is initially driven.

Here, the inverter 350, the converter 370, and the control unit 380 maybe composed of a control device provided on one substrate, and may bethe control device 1600 described above.

In other words, the clothing treatment apparatus may include the controldevice 1600 including the drum 301, the blower fan 302, the heat pump303, the plurality of motors 360 and the inverters 350, the converter370, and the control unit.

In the clothing treatment apparatus, the control unit 380 may control anincrease of the DC link voltage (Vdc) in the DC link capacitor 372provided in the converter 370 according to the capacity of an object tobe dried accommodated in the drum 301 when the clothing treatmentapparatus is initially driven.

In other words, the control unit 380 may control an increase of the DClink voltage (Vdc) according to the capacity.

For instance, depending on whether the capacity is less than thereference value, an increase width of the DC link voltage (Vdc) may becontrolled.

The control unit 380 may control the operation of the converter 370according to the capacity to control an increase of the DC link voltage(Vdc).

The converter 370 may include a rectifying member 371 that converts theAC power to the DC power and the DC link capacitor 372 that smooths theDC power converted by the rectifying member 371 to convert the AC powerinto the DC power, and may be controlled by the control unit 380.

The control unit 380 may control the operation of the rectifying member371 according to the capacity to control the DC power transferred to theDC link capacitor 372, thereby controlling an increase of the DC linkvoltage (Vdc).

The control unit 380 may control a target output value of the rectifyingmember 371 output to the DC link capacitor 372 according to the capacityto control an increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc).

In other words, the control unit 380 may control the conversionoperation of the DC power of the converter 370 by controlling the targetoutput value of the rectifying member 371 to control an increase of theDC link voltage (Vdc).

The control unit 380 may increase the target output value according tothe capacity to control an increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc).

The control unit 380 may increase the target output value and controlthe conversion operation of the rectifying member 371 to increase theoutput of the DC power transferred from the rectifying member 371 to theDC link capacitor 372, thereby controlling am increase of the DC linkvoltage (Vdc).

As shown in FIG. 26 , the control unit 380 may sense the capacity of anobject to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 when the clothingtreatment apparatus is initially driven (P1), and control an increase ofthe DC link voltage (Vdc) (P3 or P4) based on the sensed capacity (P2).

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity (P1), and compare thecapacity with a preset load reference (P2) to control an increase of theDC link voltage (Vdc) according to the comparison result (P3 or P4).

Here, the load reference may be an appropriate reference for thecapacity, an appropriate laundry amount reference of the capacity, areference for an appropriate carrying capacity of the drum 301, or arecommended laundry amount reference for the clothing treatmentapparatus.

The control unit 380 may compare the capacity with the load reference(P2), and control an increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc) according towhether the capacity is less than or above the load reference (P3 orP4).

For instance, when the capacity is less than the load reference, it maybe determined that an object to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 isaccommodated less than an appropriate reference to gradually control thedriving of the drum 301, that is, determined that the DC link capacitor372 is not needed to immediately increase the DC power transferred tothe inverter 350, thereby controlling the DC link voltage (Vdc) togradually increase.

As a result of comparing the capacity with the load reference (P2), thecontrol unit 380 may control the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increasesequentially according to a preset increase reference when the capacityis less than the load reference (P3).

In other words, when the capacity is less than the load reference, thecontrol unit 380 may sequentially increase the DC link voltage (Vdc)according to the increase reference.

The increase reference may be a reference for an increase slope or anincrease method of the DC link voltage (Vdc).

The increase reference may be shown as in FIGS. 25A to 25F.

The increase reference may be a reference set such that the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) increases by a predetermined amount per hour up to amaximum voltage level.

The increase reference may be a reference set such that the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) increases to the maximum voltage level for a predeterminedperiod of time.

When controlled to sequentially increase according to the increasereference (P3), the control unit 380 may sequentially increase a targetoutput value of the DC power output from the converter 370 according tothe increase reference.

In other words, the control unit 380 may sequentially increase thetarget output value according to the increase reference and control theconversion operation of the rectifying member 371, thereby controllingthe DC link voltage (Vdc) to sequentially increase according to theincrease reference (P4).

When controlled to sequentially increase the DC link voltage (Vdc)according to the increase reference (P3) because the capacitycorresponds to less than the load reference, the control unit 380 mayvary the increase reference according to the capacity.

In other words, when the DC link voltage (Vdc) is sequentially increased(P3), the control unit 380 may vary the increase reference according toa difference between the capacity and the load reference to control anincrease of the DC link voltage (Vdc).

For instance, the control unit 380 may vary a slope of the increasereference according to a difference between the capacity and the loadreference so as to control the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increaseaccording to the degree of the capacity.

The control unit 380 may vary the increase reference so that the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) increases more slowly than the increase reference, or varythe increase reference so that the DC link voltage (Vdc) increases morerapidly than the increase reference according to a difference betweenthe capacity and the load reference.

In other words, the control unit 380 may vary the reference to increaseor decrease according to a difference between the capacity and the loadreference, thereby varying an increase width of the DC link voltage(Vdc).

For instance, the load reference may be varied to decrease the increasereference when the capacity is scarce and significantly less than theload reference, or varied to increase the increase reference when thecapacity is close to the load criterion and there is little difference,thereby controlling the increase reference to increase according to thecapacity.

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load reference (P2), whenthe capacity is above the load reference, the control unit 380 maycontrol the DC link voltage (Vdc) to immediately increase (P4).

As a result of comparing the capacity and the load criterion (P2), whenthe capacity is above the load reference, the control unit 380 maydetermine that the capacity accommodated in the drum 340 is high, andcontrol the DC link voltage (Vdc) to immediately increase regardless ofthe increase reference (P4).

In other words, when the capacity is above the load reference, thecontrol unit 380 may immediately increase the DC link voltage (Vdc)regardless of the increase reference.

{Control Method 1 of Clothing Treatment Apparatus}

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a control method 1 of a clothing treatmentapparatus according to the present disclosure (hereinafter, referred toas a control method 1) may be a control method of a clothing treatmentapparatus, including a drum 301 in which an object to be dried isaccommodated to perform a drying operation, a blower fan 302 thatpromotes the flow of air inside the clothing treatment apparatus, a heatpump 303 that removes moisture in the air exhausted from the drum 301 toexchange heat, a plurality of motors 360 that drive each of the drum301, the blower fan 302, and the heat pump 303, a converter 370 thatconverts AC power input from an external supply into DC power, and aplurality of inverters 350 that receive the DC power from the converter370 to convert into driving power for driving the plurality of motors360 so as to output it to the plurality of motors 360, respectively,which is a method of controlling the clothing treatment apparatus of thecontrol device 1600 as described above.

In other words, the control method 1 may be applicable to the controldevice 1600 as described above.

In addition, the control method 1 may be applicable to the clothingtreatment apparatus including the control device 1600 as describedabove.

The control method 1 may be a control method for controlling the initialdriving of the clothing treatment apparatus.

In other words, the control method 1 may be a control method for theinitial driving control of the clothing treatment apparatus.

The control method 1 may be a control method in which the control unit380 included in the control device 1600 performs the initial drivingcontrol of the clothing treatment apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 27 , the control method 1 includes starting the drivingof the clothing treatment apparatus (S10), sensing the capacity of theobject to be dried (S20), determining an increase reference of the DClink voltage (Vdc) of the DC link capacitor 372 included in theconverter 370 based on the capacity (S30), and controlling the operationof the converter 370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according tothe increase reference (S40).

In other words, the control method 1 is a method of controlling theinitial driving of the clothing treatment apparatus in a sequence ofsaid starting step (S10), said sensing step (S20), said determining step(S30), and said controlling step (S40), and the control unit 380performs control in the sequence of said starting step (S10), saidsensing step (S20), said determining step (S30), and said controllingstep (S40) to control an increase of the DC link voltage (Vdc), therebycontrolling the initial driving of the clothing treatment apparatus.

Said starting step (S10) may be a step in which power is applied to theclothing treatment apparatus to start the driving the clothing treatmentapparatus.

In said starting step (S10), the control unit 380 may control drivingpower to be applied to one or more components included in the clothingtreatment apparatus.

Said sensing step (S20) may be a step of sensing the capacity of theobject to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 after starting thedriving of the clothing treatment apparatus (S10).

The control unit 380 may sense the capacity accommodated in the drum 301using a sensor included in the sensing unit 340 in said sensing step(S20).

Said determining step (S30) may be a step of determining the increasereference according to the capacity after sensing the capacity (S20).

In said determining step S30, the control unit 380 may judge anddetermine the increase reference, which is an increase reference of theDC link voltage (Vdc), based on the capacity.

Said determining step (S30) may compare the capacity with a preset loadreference (S31) to determine the increase reference (S32) according tothe comparison result, as shown in FIG. 28 .

Said determining step (S30) may compare the capacity with the loadreference (S31) to determine whether the capacity is less than the loadreference.

Said determining step (S30) may determine the increase reference toincrease the DC link voltage (Vdc) at a predetermined slope (S32 a) whenthe capacity is less than the load reference as a result of comparingthe capacity and the load reference (S31).

In other words, when the capacity is less than the load reference, theincrease reference may be determined (S32 a) to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) at the predetermined slope, thereby controlling the DClink voltage (Vdc) to increase at the predetermined slope according tothe increase reference.

Said determining step S30 may determine the predetermined slopeaccording to the capacity (S33).

Said determining step (S30) may determine the predetermined slope (S33)according to a degree that the capacity is less than the load reference.

Said determining step (S30) may determine the predetermined slope sothat the DC link voltage (Vdc) increases slowly or the DC link voltage(Vdc) increases rapidly according to a difference between the capacityand the load reference (S33).

In other words, said determining step (S30) may determine thepredetermined slope according to a difference between the capacity andthe load reference, thereby controlling an increase width of the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) according to the capacity.

Said determining step (S30) may determine the increase reference toincrease the DC link voltage (Vdc) without having the predeterminedslope (S32 b) when the capacity is above the load reference as a resultof comparing the capacity and the load reference (S31).

In other words, when the capacity is above the load reference, theincrease reference may be determined (S32 b) to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) without having the predetermined slope, therebycontrolling the DC link voltage (Vdc) to immediately increase accordingto the increase reference.

Said controlling step (S40) may control the operation of the converter370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to the increasereference after determining the increase reference (S30).

The control unit 380 may control the conversion operation of therectifying member 371 that converts the AC power to the DC power in saidcontrolling step (S40), thereby controlling the operation of theconverter 370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc).

Said controlling step (S40) may control the operation of the converter370 to increase a target output value of the DC power output from theconverter 370 according to the increase reference.

In other words, said controlling step (S40) may increase the targetoutput value of the rectifying member 371 at which the DC power isoutput to the DC link capacitor 372 according to the increase reference,and control the operation of the rectifying member 371, therebycontrolling the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increase according to theincrease reference.

{Control Method 2 of Clothing Treatment Apparatus}

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a control method 2 of a clothing treatmentapparatus according to the present disclosure (hereinafter, referred toas a control method 2) may be a control method of a clothing treatmentapparatus, including a drum 301 in which an object to be dried isaccommodated to perform a drying operation, a blower fan 302 thatpromotes the flow of air inside the clothing treatment apparatus, a heatpump 303 that removes moisture in the air exhausted from the drum 301 toexchange heat, a plurality of motors 360 that drive each of the drum301, the blower fan 302, and the heat pump 303, a converter 370 thatconverts AC power input from an external supply into DC power, and aplurality of inverters 350 that receive the DC power from the converter370 to convert into driving power for driving the plurality of motors360 so as to output it to the plurality of motors 360, respectively,which is a method of controlling the clothing treatment apparatus asdescribed above.

In other words, the control method 2 may be applicable to the controldevice 1600 as described above.

In addition, the control method 2 may be applicable to the clothingtreatment apparatus including the control apparatus 1600 as describedabove.

The control method 2 may be a control method for controlling drivingincluding initial driving of the clothing treatment apparatus.

In other words, the control method 2 may be a control method for thedriving control of the clothing treatment apparatus.

The control method 2 may be a control method in which the control unit380 included in the control device 1600 performs the initial drivingcontrol of the clothing treatment apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 29 , the control method 2 includes initially drivingthe clothing treatment apparatus (S100), converting the DC power to thedriving power (S200), and outputting the driving power to the pluralityof motors 360, respectively, to control the drying operation (S300).

Here, said initially driving step (S100) may be carried out as in thecontrol method 1 as described above.

Said initially driving step S100 may be a step of controlling theconverter 370.

As shown in FIG. 27 , said initially driving step (S100) may includestarting the driving of the clothing treatment apparatus (S10), sensingthe capacity of the object to be dried (S20), determining an increasereference of the DC link voltage (Vdc) of the DC link capacitor 372included in the converter 370 based on the capacity (S30), andcontrolling the operation of the converter 370 to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) according to the increase reference (S40).

Said starting step (S10) may be a step in which power is applied to theclothing treatment apparatus to start the driving the clothing treatmentapparatus.

Said sensing step (S20) may be a step of sensing the capacity of theobject to be dried accommodated in the drum 301 after starting thedriving of the clothing treatment apparatus (S10).

Said determining step (S30) may be a step of determining the increasereference according to the capacity after sensing the capacity (S20).

Said determining step (S30) may compare the capacity with a preset loadreference (S31) to determine the increase reference (S32) according tothe comparison result, as shown in FIG. 28 .

Said determining step (S30) may compare the capacity with the loadreference (S31) to determine whether the capacity is less than the loadreference.

Said determining step (S30) may determine the increase reference toincrease the DC link voltage (Vdc) at a predetermined slope (S32 a) whenthe capacity is less than the load reference as a result of comparingthe capacity and the load reference (S31).

In other words, when the capacity is less than the load reference, theincrease reference may be determined (S32 a) to increase the DC linkvoltage (Vdc) at the predetermined slope, thereby controlling the DClink voltage (Vdc) to increase at the predetermined slope according tothe increase reference.

Said determining step S30 may determine the predetermined slopeaccording to the capacity (S33).

Said determining step (S30) may determine the predetermined slope (S33)according to a degree that the capacity is less than the load reference.

Said determining step (S30) may determine the predetermined slope sothat the DC link voltage (Vdc) increases slowly or the DC link voltage(Vdc) increases rapidly according to a difference between the capacityand the load reference (S33).

Said determining step (S30) may determine the increase reference toincrease the DC link voltage (Vdc) without having the predeterminedslope (S32 b) when the capacity is above the load reference as a resultof comparing the capacity and the load reference (S31).

Said controlling step (S40) may control the operation of the converter370 to increase the DC link voltage (Vdc) according to the increasereference after determining the increase reference (S30).

Said controlling step (S40) may control the operation of the converter370 to increase a target output value of the DC power output from theconverter 370 according to the increase reference.

In other words, said controlling step (S40) may increase the targetoutput value of the rectifying member 371 at which the DC power isoutput to the DC link capacitor 372 according to the increase reference,and control the operation of the rectifying member 371, therebycontrolling the DC link voltage (Vdc) to increase according to theincrease reference.

As described above, said initially driving step (S100) including saidstarting step (S10), said sensing step (S20), said determining step(S30), and said controlling step (S40) may be carried out for a presetdriving period of time.

Said converting to the driving power (S200) may be a step of controllingthe inverter 350.

Said converting to the driving power (S200) may convert the DC powerreceived from the DC link capacitor 372 from the inverter 350 into thedriving power after controlling the converter 370 in the initiallydriving step (S100).

Said controlling the drying operation (S300) may be a step of outputtingthe driving power to the plurality of motors 360, respectively, tocontrolling the drying operation.

Said controlling the drying operation (S300) may control the inverter350 s in said converting to the driving power (S200), and then outputthe driving power converted by the inverters 350 to the plurality ofmotors 360, respectively, to control the drying operation.

The embodiments of the control device of the clothing treatmentapparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus, and the control methods 1and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus as described above may beimplemented separately and independently, and may also be implemented ina combination of two or more thereof.

The embodiments of the control device of the clothing treatmentapparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus, and the control methods 1and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus as described above may beimplemented as a part or a combination of components or steps includedin each of the embodiments, or may be implemented as a combination ofthe embodiments.

The embodiments of the control device of the clothing treatmentapparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus, and the control methods 1and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus as described above may beapplicable to a control device, a control module, and a control memberfor controlling the clothing treatment apparatus, a control method ofthe control device for controlling the clothing treatment apparatus, acontrol method of controlling the clothing treatment apparatus, acontrol system of the clothing treatment apparatus, and the like.

The embodiments of the control device of the clothing treatmentapparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus, and the control methods 1and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus as described above may beusefully applicable, in particular, to a control device provided with aconverter and a plurality of inverters to control the initial driving ofthe clothing treatment apparatus, a clothing treatment apparatusincluding the same, or a control method thereof.

The embodiments of the control device of the clothing treatmentapparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus, and the control methods 1and 2 of the clothing treatment apparatus as described above may also beapplicable to any clothing treatment apparatuses, dryers, initialdriving control methods of the clothing treating apparatus, drivingcontrol methods of the clothing treatment apparatus, and the like.

The embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and the controlmethod thereof as described above may be implemented separately andrespectively, and may also be implemented in a combination of two ormore thereof, or may be implemented as a part or a combination ofcomponents or steps included in each of the embodiments, or may beimplemented as a combination of the embodiments.

Furthermore, the embodiments of the clothing treatment apparatus and thecontrol method thereof according to the present disclosure may beimplemented as computer-readable codes on a medium in which a program iswritten The computer-readable media may include any types of recordingdevices in which data readable by a computer system is stored. Examplesof the computer-readable media may include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetictape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device, and the like, andalso include a device implemented in the form of a carrier wave (forexample, transmission via the Internet). In addition, the computer mayinclude the control unit 380 of the clothing treatment apparatus 1000.

Although a specific embodiment according to the present disclosure hasbeen described so far, various modifications may of course be madewithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore,the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to thedescribed embodiments, and should not be defined by the scope andequivalents of the claims as well as the scope of the claims which willbe described later.

Although the present invention has been described with respect tospecific embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limitedto those embodiments, and it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made from thedescription disclosed herein. Accordingly, all of the equivalent orequivalent modifications thereof will fall into the scope of the conceptof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing treatment apparatus, comprising: amain body that defines an external appearance of the clothing treatmentapparatus; a drum rotatably disposed inside the main body and configuredto accommodate an object to be dried by heated air; a compressorconfigured to compress refrigerant to exchange heat with dehumidifiedair circulated through a condenser to the drum, wherein the dehumidifiedair has less moisture relative to the heated air; a blower fanconfigured to generate a flow of the heated air or the dehumidified air;a plurality of inverters configured to transfer power to at least one ofthe drum, the compressor, or the blower fan; a converter configured toreceive input power from an outside, convert the received input power,and output the converted input power to the plurality of inverters; anda control unit configured to generate command information correspondingto each of the plurality of inverters and to control the converter basedon the generated command information.
 2. The clothing treatmentapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first motor configured torotate the drum, a second motor configured to rotate the blower fan, anda third motor configured to drive the compressor, wherein the pluralityof inverters comprise: a first inverter configured to transfer power tothe first motor, a second inverter configured to transfer power to thesecond motor, and a third inverter configured to transfer power to thethird motor.
 3. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to: generate a first switching signal forcontrolling the first inverter, a second switching signal forcontrolling the second inverter, and a third switching signal forcontrolling the third inverter; and control operation of the converterbased on the first switching signal, the second switching signal, andthe third switching signal.
 4. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim2, wherein the control unit is configured to: detect a magnitude of loadapplied to each of the first inverter, the second inverter, and thethird inverter; and control operation of the converter based on thedetected magnitude of load applied to each of the first inverter, thesecond inverter, and the third inverter.
 5. The clothing treatmentapparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an input unit configured toreceive a user input for setting an operation mode of the clothingtreatment apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to controlthe converter based on the user input.
 6. The clothing treatmentapparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to controlthe converter based on an operation time of the clothing treatmentapparatus set by the user input.
 7. The clothing treatment apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to control the converterbased on a temperature of hot air to be supplied into the drum set bythe user input.
 8. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 2, furthercomprising: a sensor configured to sense a weight of the object in thedrum, wherein the control unit is configured to control the converterbased on the weight of the object in the drum.
 9. The clothing treatmentapparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to: set anoutput of each of the first inverter, the second inverter, and the thirdinverter based on a set operation mode of the clothing treatmentapparatus; and control operation of the converter based on the setoutputs of the first inverter, the second inverter, and the thirdinverter.
 10. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to: detect a voltage level of the input powerreceived from the outside; and distribute the converted input power ofthe converter based on the detected voltage level of the input power.11. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the convertercomprises: an inductor configured to receive the input power and totransfer energy corresponding to the input power, a power switchconnected to an end of the inductor and configured to control transferof the energy from the inductor based on a switching signal of thecontrol unit, the power switch being configured to: allow the transferof the energy from the inductor to an output end of the power switchduring a switching-off operation period according to a duty controlsignal, and block the transfer of the energy from the inductor to theoutput end of the power switch during a switching-on operation periodaccording to the duty control signal, a diode that is electricallyconnected in parallel to the power switch and that is connected to theend of the inductor, the diode being configured to allow the transfer ofthe energy from the inductor to the output end and to block a reverseflow of energy from the output end during the switching-on operationperiod, and an output capacitor that is electrically connected inparallel to a load disposed at an end of the diode corresponding to theoutput end of the power switch, the output capacitor being configured tocharge part of the energy transferred through the diode and to outputthe charged energy to the load during the switching-on operation period.12. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controlunit is configured to receive feedback information related to an outputof the converter and to control a switching operation of the converterbased on the feedback information.
 13. The clothing treatment apparatusof claim 12, wherein the feedback information comprises informationabout at least one of an operating frequency or an operating duty ratioof the switching operation of the converter.
 14. The clothing treatmentapparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to:compare the operating frequency to a set frequency; and adjust theswitching operation of the converter a difference between the operatingfrequency and the set frequency.
 15. The clothing treatment apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to: compare theoperating duty ratio to a set duty ratio; and adjust the switchingoperation of the converter based on a difference between the operatingduty ratio and the set duty ratio.
 16. The clothing treatment apparatusof claim 12, wherein the switching operation comprises a plurality ofswitching-on periods that are different from one another.
 17. Theclothing treatment apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a shuntresister that is disposed between the output capacitor and at least oneof the first inverter, the second inverter, or the third inverter. 18.The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heatpump that includes the compressor and the condenser.
 19. The clothingtreatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first inverter, the secondinverter, and the third inverter are electrically connected in parallelto one another.
 20. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 19,wherein each of the first inverter, the second inverter, and the thirdinverter comprises three pairs of switches.